“You may be making some changes.” A Facebook acquaintance of mine was trying to raise funds recently for something that was important to her. She said she didn’t want to “just take money,” and offered to provide Tarot card readings in exchange for our donations. I have never, in almost six decades of being alive, […]
Celebrating Pat
As many of you know, my brother-in-law, Pat Kiger, died on February 10 from colon cancer. My brother-in-law, Jim Kiger, wrote this elegy and read it at Pat’s service. Thanks to Jim for permission to share it here. Thanks to Pat for being who you were to all of us. An Elegy to a Loved […]
Why “From Changing Diapers to Changing the World” Inspires Me
“Pneumonia, polio, measles, diarrhea… Pneumonia, polio, measles, diarrhea… Pneumonia, polio, measles, diarrhea…” The night before my first advocacy meetings in Washington, D.C., as part of Shot at Life’s annual “Hill Day,” I lay in bed repeating the four major vaccine-preventable diseases we would be discussing with our elected officials. I fretted about many parts of […]
The case of the drippy traveling flowers
Newsflash: It takes water to keep cut flowers looking good. I’m not sure why the thought, “What are we going to do with the flowers after the service?” didn’t cross my mind until about 10 minutes before my brother-in-law’s memorial service began. As soon as the question blossomed in my mind, though, I was on […]
Why does a person on hospice need a putter?
“But he can barely stand up for any extended period of time.” In the spring of 2017, my father-in-law was on hospice care in our home. An incredible volunteer, Jim, came to our house once a week to spend time with Dad. Jim and Dad would usually just sit together (Dad wasn’t an especially chatty […]
“For me?” About a meaningful gift
My doorbell rang the morning of January 28, and I assumed it wouldn’t be a good thing. I wasn’t expecting a delivery, and spontaneous visitors frustrated me because they interrupted my deadline-based work. When I opened the door, a delivery person handed me a large money plant with a stylish bow. I read the card […]