needed

Sitting across from the funeral director, I held my husband’s hand. I needed to feel something real while my body moved between sadness and shock. I glanced at my mom to steady her and at my husband for support. There was one person noticeably missing from our group: my dad.…

“Don’t come into the attic, I’m wrapping Christmas gifts,” I shouted to my youngest child last December, awaiting her response. She’d recently turned 11, and in my heart, I knew she no longer believed in Santa.”Mom! Don’t forget, I want Monopoly,” she casually called back.I scrunched my eyelids together, holding…

I wish I could say my husband and I were young and foolish, but we weren’t that young. We just never considered writing wills.Who needs those? Grandparents. People in their 80s whose adult children are going to argue over who gets the favorite painting or the glassware. We had one…