Marathons Girls Pregnancy has flown by for me:) Also I totally disagreed with your post on grief and counseling. Some thoughts on that later I think. from Trinity Sixty-Three [email] [homepage] 12:50 am - Monday,April 19, 2004

I think it's much bigger than the counseling industry. I think that aside from the things you've mentioned, there are at least two other major factors -- one, a general view in our society that death is somehow unnatural or scary and two, the tendency to give authority for one's well-being, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual, over to someone else. After Jasmine died, I hear again and again that it is not "natural" for a child to die. Actually, prior to the last sixty years or so, it was very "natural." It's not comfortable and it's very sad, but it's also very much a part of the natural cycle of things (and I do understand that people say this in the spirit of offering condolence). Part of the problem, I believe, is that our society has become very disconnected from the process of dying and caring for the dead. Of course people think they need counselors -- they view death as abnormal, when nothing could be further from the truth. It's as "natural" or "normal" as birth. It wasn't that long ago that families cared for their dead just as they care for their new additions -- removing that piece of the experience of life has left a hole in our coping fabric. from ilmomof3 [email] [homepage] 1:44 am - Thursday,April 15, 2004

Good post on the grief industry. I think it's the "psychiatric industry" myself. Even normal reactions to an event are treated as though you need counselling. When I was in grade 8, the school nurse used to check in on me. I can't blame her. I wore a back brace, got good grades, but didn't have many friends. One day I broke down crying in her office. 10 years later I sat in another doctors office with obvious symptoms of CFS/ME. Like most bad doctors, he leapt immediatly to "it must be emotional"..watching me still sleep 15 hours a day, and still have no energy but be extremely happy thanks to anti-depressents showed him that I did indeed have CFS, but not before having me describe my history where I told him about this incident in high school..he wrote "she had a nervous breakdown in grade 8"..he was reading this two years later to my mother, as though my mother didn't know my history better than him (he'd forgotten he diagnosed me)..anyway, she turned to me..'strange I don't remember you having a breakdown..I would have rmembered that." We live in a world where if you have any emotional response you either need "help" or medication..it's entirely stupid. If you grieve over a loss you're handled as though you're going crazy. It's frustrating! I think it's just so that the doctors can get more visits, and counsellors can make more money. Grief and loss is a normal response to anything. I don't think we're given enough credit. from Andrea [email] [homepage] 0:30 am - Thursday,April 15, 2004

The man who invented daylight savings time was a Canadian - and I go to his namesake college. I have to admit, though, I rather hate him as well - but I'd prefer to be on the old lunar calendar anyway, with none of these leap years or gregorian blah. Good luck to you and the lady with the upcoming birth. from ExodusNights [email] [homepage] 3:43 pm - Wednesday,April 14, 2004

Yeah, I'm amused by my dating stories too. And I'm totally with you on the rain--why does it always rain while I'm at work?! from holli [email] [homepage] 1:30 am - Tuesday,April 13, 2004

I'm a Texas Rangers fan... I understand your shock! :) from ChicagoJo [email] [homepage] 4:31 pm - Monday,April 12, 2004

When I heard a few days ago that they were the last undefeated team in baseball, I thought they were joking. Looks like another epic sports turnaround may be in the making. from Jason [email] [homepage] 2:28 pm - Monday,April 12, 2004

Hi there, I was referred to your diary by another d-lander (life-my-way) and I'm glad I came. My 10 year-old-daughter died this February and I've been writing about grieving ever since. The thing I've struggled with most is finding resources, particularly other parents who coped with the death without living out the remainder of their days in deepest despair. It's not that I don't feel despair, it's just that I don't want my life to end because my daughter's did. Most days I feel like I'm pretty much in the minority. Reading your diary was reassuring. I am so sorry for your loss, but so glad your life is continuing in such a positive way. I'll continue reading your site -- I've added you to my buddy list (one of many people who've done so, no doubt) and would love to buy your book if you get it published! Peace, Monica from Monica [email] [homepage] 0:22 am - Monday,April 12, 2004

Thank you for your good health vibes :) from Nikki [email] [homepage] 9:47 pm - Saturday,April 10, 2004

Just wanted to say that I put in an article about Detroit's fabulous start in today's paper and did it with thoughts of you!! Go Tigers! from judy [email] [homepage] 5:11 pm - Thursday,April 8, 2004

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