My fourth-grade teacher, a nun, taught us to "say a little prayer whenever you hear a siren." And so…I have said a little prayer for years whenever I hear a siren. I repeat Sister's prayer and add my own addendum: "Please, God, help the people…
My young friend, Laura, tells me of her burden of grief in the after years of her mom's death. Working through the pain, Laura was encouraged to write a message to her mom - on a balloon. She did - and released it into the…
The spring wind blows wildly today sending seeds and dreams in all directions. The yard angels - not their real business name - came to estimate what spring cleaning needs to be done among the dead branches and winter debris. "You must cut away at…
Ron Howard’s Apollo 13 film has been playing and re-playing on television lately. It was 31 years ago that we watched our televisions with great angst, wondering if the three astronauts would forever be lost in space. I recall those days, watching my father who…
The Plowshares Five were sentenced today in federal court. While 250 supporters kept vigil outside, U.S. DIstrict Court Judge Benjamin Settle handed down their sentences - effective immediately. (About the photo: Demonstrators outside the federal courthouse in Tacoma pray before a sentencing hearing for the…
On Monday, March 28 five peace activists will be sentenced in Tacoma, Washington for crimes committed on November 2, 2009. Each defendant faces possible sentences of up to 10 years in prison. The five were found guilty of trespass, felony damage to federal property, felony…
While Susie Stephens is memorialized through planting trees, a family in Olympia memorialized their son with river rocks. Carved with his name, "Zack," on each stone, the three-inch rocks were given to friends to take and leave at travel or favorite destinations. The family felt…
While soft foods may contain a comforting recipe for dinner, this book contains a recipe for the days when your heart aches and longs for comfort following a loss. "Tear Soup" is a great resource for children as well as adults. The story uses the…
What if you do want to live longer than your late 70's or early 80's? Are their predictors that will tell you what contributes to a long, long life? Junk food aside, Yes! The results of a recent study name some qualities and behaviors that…
Today's news: "…the region north of Tokyo where officials say at least 10,000 people were killed…whole villages and towns have been wiped off the map…at least 1.5 million households lack running water…Japan is facing its worst crisis since World War Two." In the 1977 film,…
Thirty-five years ago Rebecca and I spent our junior year of college in Florence, Italy, with 90 other students. We explored, we pondered, we traveled, and we studied. Friendships grew deep. Last week we received an e-mail telling of the death of a classmate's mother.…
Today our hearts are heavy as we witness the aftermath of Japan's devastating earthquake. We remain in solidarity with the people of Japan as they face the days ahead. Even when we know no one, even when the land is not our own...we grieve for…
At Ash Wednesday services we sit in reflective quiet. Well, almost. Our developmentally-challenged parishioners break the cadence of our liturgical rhythm with little screeches of joy, melodic squeals, a few beats after the hymn has ended. No matter. The priest pauses to hear their prayers,…
Traveling this week and on the airplane sat next to a woman from the West Indies. She moved to Portland 13 years ago for her husband's work, but she told me she hasn't been to her homeland in 13 years. Generations of immigrants -- 100…
This week, 16-year-old Wes Leonard collapsed and died after making the winning shot for his high school basketball team. Wes died of an enlarged heart. No one knew he had a heart condition. With all that we do control in life, we never expect to…
A wonderful man from my parish died a few weeks ago. He was told last summer that his cancer would take his life within six months. Jim was artistic in skill as well as in his appreciation of art. His friends asked if he wanted…
97Jack Thank you for your wisdom! My dear friend, Mary, was my role model. When asked for her secret to such a long and happy life (we buried her on her 91st birthday) she replied: "Two things; you have to have a reason to get…
My young friend, Laura, writes about the funeral for her mom who died in 2007: "Something I wish I had known was that at a Catholic funeral mass there can't be a flower arrangement on top of the casket. There is a cross and a…
I am always looking for poems or short essays to enclose in condolence cards or send to people in grief. My friend Lela found a long poem by John O'Donohue, an Irish poet, philosopher and Catholic scholar who died suddenly in 2008, at just 52.…
Welcome to our EndNotes blog. Here we hope to address and discuss the etiquette and other appropriate responses to chronic illness, death and dying, grief and loss.
Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.
