Part 1: The Calm Before the Storm – When Past Reflections Prepare Us for Present Grief
Have you ever found that sometimes something you read, journal, or speak was unknowingly preparing you for what came next?”
The last three articles in my column were written from a very peaceful shore in Carlsbad California watching and listening to the waves roll in as I launched a series on seeing the fine line between grief and depression.
Little did I realize that today I’d be writing, the next series, seated at the stormy shore of fresh grief myself, still in shock.
The dreaded phone call came at 408a.m. just 5 short days ago, the emergency room nurse was calling my husband and I to notify us that while on vacation in Montana, my father in law passed away; we needed to be with his Mom.
Instant shock provided a numb over the fierce emotions raging, just enough to allow quick planning and strategy to allow us to be at her side that same day.
The next 24 hours were filled with many opportunities to reflect on who Dad was and the things he taught us as we remembered various life adventures with him to prepare for the memorial service for local friends and nearby family the next day.
My daughter quickly took to her passion and self comforting act of writing, while I took to diligent planning and singing. Others found their comfort in talking with each other.
The acts we took of self comfort were essential to get through the days of running on pure adrenaline – numb to the reality knocking on our hearts.
Today, 5-days later the numb has lifted, it reminds me of the feeling of anesthesia wearing of and all of a sudden you realize you really don’t know all the details of what just happened but the pain is there to slap
you into reality. I know we’ll be fine, and I’m grateful for a great support system, but I know we have much ahead of us.
I invite you to join me for glimpses of this portion of my journey. I know that I will see numerous care topics being played out in my own life and as I share with you; my hope is to encourage others and provide helpful hints of navigating care.
