Thank you Tiffany for giving us this opportunity to learn more about our lovely Mary.
Thank you for sharing more of your personal story Mary. Mum and I sorted through various bags of Dad's clothes. The ties, bow ties, and sweaters hooked both of us too. Hugs and heartache, you're not alone behind that door. Sitting alongside you with a mug of tea (soon to be converted to espresso you know what ;-) ) HUGS to you both
Victoria, you are an angel. It is so bittersweet to go through his things, especially when I thought they were already gone. And yes, the espresso. I’m ready for one right now.
Dad loved bow ties - it was his 'trademark' when he did ward rounds at the hospital, so I saved a couple. But when am I going to wear them?!! I may 'Pretty in Pink' them into a dress one day ;-) HUGS
Tiffany, the honor is mine. I am so grateful to you for shaping my life from scraps into a story. And thankful for the invitation to share my experience and my essay on your beautiful site. Love and hugs to you, always.🙏🫶💕
Tiffany, I am so incredibly honored that you invited me to write a guest post for your site. And that I'm the first! WOW! Just over the moon. Love and gratitude, Mary xoxo
Tiffany, what a great piece! I LOVE the bio opener. I got here via Mary - so Mary - WHAT a great essay. I was not able to keep my husband’s spaces intact - his hoarding and messiness was a bone of contention - but I wear his ‘ratty camo fleece’ as my comfort dog-walking sweater, in cooler weather, and will keep it forever. I still have a few garments I can’t part with, including the coats he wore during the short months of illness before his death in Feb 2021. I simply love the image you closed with.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for your kind words. I’m so glad it touched you. Tiffany did an amazing job of presenting my messy life in a gracious and generous way. I have Tiffany to thank for giving me the support and inspiration to write this piece, when I was ready to give up.
My deepest condolences on the loss of your husband. I’m glad to hear that you were able to keep some of his clothes, and find comfort in wearing them. 🙏💕🫶
Mary has SUCH a beautiful heart. I'm a lucky recipient of her generous love, and so honoured she agreed to do this guest post. Thanks for being here, Elizabeth!
Such a wonderful bio sketch of Mary. In all the years we've known each other, I never knew the breadth of your education in languages. And your self-study of the greats is fascinating and inspiring. This explains your deep connections to excellent writing and makes me want to add to my TBR pile.
Mary, this piece is magnificent. The way you weave in concrete, simple details brings forth the universality of grief. The concept of paying for expensive garments over time evokes another era, incomparable to today's immediate gratifications and racing to complete any experience in record time. I love the idea of bucking any "right" time for grieving. Surely there is no such thing. Thank you for this lovely essay, Mary. And thank you to Tiffany for inviting Mary as a guest in your space. Just beautiful.
Oh, Colleen! I wish I could claim any fluency in those languages. And of course, the books: I wish I had a better memory for plots, characters, and narratives. But I am grateful for the opportunity to learn on my own, driven by a passion for learning. Tiffany did a magnificent job of pulling together the hodgepodge of my life story.
And I would never have been able to write this essay without Tiffany. She is brilliant, compassionate, and courageous. I wanted to write something that would be worthy of a place on her extraordinary Substack. I am so grateful.🙏🫶💕
Marilyn, this is beautiful. It reminds me of going through my dad’s stuff with my mom shortly after his death. She put all the sweaters and coats and hats on the bed and told my brothers and I to pick what we wanted. I took a couple of cashmere cardigans and a hat. I love them so much
LeeAnn, my deepest condolences on the loss of your father. I miss my dad so much! I still have one of his jackets tucked away in my cedar chest. I’m so glad you got to choose which garments of his you wanted to keep. So much comfort. Thank you for sharing your story. 🙏💕
My husband of 52 years died two years ago. This SO parallels my experience. I found writing poems was inevitable and I’m still letting go of things he treasured. Thank you for writing and sharing this.
Joan. 52 years. What a gift to have such a deep and lasting relationship. My love and sympathy to you.🙏🫶 I’m so glad to hear that you’re writing, and taking your own time to get through this. There are no rules and no timetable to grief. Thank you so much for sharing your story.❤️
Simply beautiful in every way. I can still see my brother’s Irish knit sweater draped over a chair at my mom’s kitchen table. At the head of the table actually where his heart continued to BE the pulse of our family. There are some treasures that must remain behind. Our everything “fast” from food to service does not work ever for the practice of healing within loss. Say their names, be not afraid to utter them, they are medicine for our souls. If a tear comes, you did not cause it, you simply joined us in the honoring and in the remembering. So many treasured nuggets within this piece. I felt as if I was beside you, Mary, in the sifting, sorting and remembering. Gentle care as you continue to heal and forgive me for not recalling your husband’s name as I would be typing it now. Early morning gray matter for me! 🩵🪶
Joanie, my condolences on the loss of your brother. As hard as it is to do the sorting, it has to be done, but in your own time. There’s no proper schedule. Thank you for sharing your story, and for the kind wishes. I definitely understand the sleep issues. I’m right there with you. 🙏💕
Joanie, my heart goes out to you. Such a hard thing to lose the beating heart of a family, yet so comforting to have the small reminders of their lives. Those early morning writing hours: how well I know them. Blessings.🙏
Two of my favorite women writers, sharing a platform. Doesn't get much better than that! Thank you both. Wonderful essay Mary.
Thank you, Matthew!❤️❤️
So honoured to considered one of your favourite women authors, Matthew. And to be up there with Mary is my writing dream. She's my hero.
Tiffany, hugs! 🥰. So thrilled to be here.🙏you are a superstar.
Beautiful writing Mary! Thanks for sharing ♥️
Thank you, Elkins! You are so kind.🙏❤️
Ellina! Hate autocorrect.😡
This is so beautiful Mary. Thank you for sharing and may his memory be a blessing
Thank you so much, Sarah. I am still just over the moon to be invited by Tiffany!❤️
Thank you Tiffany for giving us this opportunity to learn more about our lovely Mary.
Thank you for sharing more of your personal story Mary. Mum and I sorted through various bags of Dad's clothes. The ties, bow ties, and sweaters hooked both of us too. Hugs and heartache, you're not alone behind that door. Sitting alongside you with a mug of tea (soon to be converted to espresso you know what ;-) ) HUGS to you both
Victoria, you are an angel. It is so bittersweet to go through his things, especially when I thought they were already gone. And yes, the espresso. I’m ready for one right now.
Dad loved bow ties - it was his 'trademark' when he did ward rounds at the hospital, so I saved a couple. But when am I going to wear them?!! I may 'Pretty in Pink' them into a dress one day ;-) HUGS
Victoria, I’m sure you could rock a bow tie! What a great reminder of your dad. Thank you for sharing this.🙏
Agree with Mary. You would rock bow ties, Victoria!
Mary is just amazing. It's such a privilege to feature her!
Tiffany, the honor is mine. I am so grateful to you for shaping my life from scraps into a story. And thankful for the invitation to share my experience and my essay on your beautiful site. Love and hugs to you, always.🙏🫶💕
Tiffany, I am so incredibly honored that you invited me to write a guest post for your site. And that I'm the first! WOW! Just over the moon. Love and gratitude, Mary xoxo
It's such a privilege, Mary. I'm so happy you said yes! Still in awe that I get to house one of your pieces on my humble site. Thank you so, so much.
So so beautiful. Thank you for letting us into such an intimate part of your life. 💕
Mika, much gratitude. Love to you.🙏❤️🫶
Your husband is much loved and I’m sure, dearly missed. 💕
Mika, yes. “Always something there to remind me,” is the song, the words, that keep running through my mind.🫶🙏
My heart. Mary, thank you ❤️ Always, thank you for cracking me open.
Mesa, big hugs to you.💕🫶🙏
Tiffany, what a great piece! I LOVE the bio opener. I got here via Mary - so Mary - WHAT a great essay. I was not able to keep my husband’s spaces intact - his hoarding and messiness was a bone of contention - but I wear his ‘ratty camo fleece’ as my comfort dog-walking sweater, in cooler weather, and will keep it forever. I still have a few garments I can’t part with, including the coats he wore during the short months of illness before his death in Feb 2021. I simply love the image you closed with.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for your kind words. I’m so glad it touched you. Tiffany did an amazing job of presenting my messy life in a gracious and generous way. I have Tiffany to thank for giving me the support and inspiration to write this piece, when I was ready to give up.
My deepest condolences on the loss of your husband. I’m glad to hear that you were able to keep some of his clothes, and find comfort in wearing them. 🙏💕🫶
Mary has SUCH a beautiful heart. I'm a lucky recipient of her generous love, and so honoured she agreed to do this guest post. Thanks for being here, Elizabeth!
Big, big hugs to you, Tiffany a Elizabeth!🥰
Life interrupted my reading of Mary. I forgot how beautiful your writing is. That was exquisite in every way ❤️
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, thank you for your lovely remarks. I’m glad this touched you.🙏❤️
Mary and Tiffany,
Such a wonderful bio sketch of Mary. In all the years we've known each other, I never knew the breadth of your education in languages. And your self-study of the greats is fascinating and inspiring. This explains your deep connections to excellent writing and makes me want to add to my TBR pile.
Mary, this piece is magnificent. The way you weave in concrete, simple details brings forth the universality of grief. The concept of paying for expensive garments over time evokes another era, incomparable to today's immediate gratifications and racing to complete any experience in record time. I love the idea of bucking any "right" time for grieving. Surely there is no such thing. Thank you for this lovely essay, Mary. And thank you to Tiffany for inviting Mary as a guest in your space. Just beautiful.
Oh, Colleen! I wish I could claim any fluency in those languages. And of course, the books: I wish I had a better memory for plots, characters, and narratives. But I am grateful for the opportunity to learn on my own, driven by a passion for learning. Tiffany did a magnificent job of pulling together the hodgepodge of my life story.
And I would never have been able to write this essay without Tiffany. She is brilliant, compassionate, and courageous. I wanted to write something that would be worthy of a place on her extraordinary Substack. I am so grateful.🙏🫶💕
I'm just in awe of Mary. Thank you for reading her beautiful words, Colleen!
Tiffany, 🫶🫶🫶
A beautiful, tender essay. Thank you for writing it, Mary, and thanks to Tiffany to sharing on your platform. I really enjoyed reading.
Thank you so much, Ramya. I’m deeply grateful to Tiffany.🙏🫶
Sorry for your loss Mary :(
Thank you, Stephen.🙏
Marilyn, this is beautiful. It reminds me of going through my dad’s stuff with my mom shortly after his death. She put all the sweaters and coats and hats on the bed and told my brothers and I to pick what we wanted. I took a couple of cashmere cardigans and a hat. I love them so much
LeeAnn, my deepest condolences on the loss of your father. I miss my dad so much! I still have one of his jackets tucked away in my cedar chest. I’m so glad you got to choose which garments of his you wanted to keep. So much comfort. Thank you for sharing your story. 🙏💕
My husband of 52 years died two years ago. This SO parallels my experience. I found writing poems was inevitable and I’m still letting go of things he treasured. Thank you for writing and sharing this.
Joan. 52 years. What a gift to have such a deep and lasting relationship. My love and sympathy to you.🙏🫶 I’m so glad to hear that you’re writing, and taking your own time to get through this. There are no rules and no timetable to grief. Thank you so much for sharing your story.❤️
Thank you - it was, and in important ways, continues to be a gift. I wish you gentle consolations. 🙏
Simply beautiful in every way. I can still see my brother’s Irish knit sweater draped over a chair at my mom’s kitchen table. At the head of the table actually where his heart continued to BE the pulse of our family. There are some treasures that must remain behind. Our everything “fast” from food to service does not work ever for the practice of healing within loss. Say their names, be not afraid to utter them, they are medicine for our souls. If a tear comes, you did not cause it, you simply joined us in the honoring and in the remembering. So many treasured nuggets within this piece. I felt as if I was beside you, Mary, in the sifting, sorting and remembering. Gentle care as you continue to heal and forgive me for not recalling your husband’s name as I would be typing it now. Early morning gray matter for me! 🩵🪶
Joanie, my condolences on the loss of your brother. As hard as it is to do the sorting, it has to be done, but in your own time. There’s no proper schedule. Thank you for sharing your story, and for the kind wishes. I definitely understand the sleep issues. I’m right there with you. 🙏💕
Joanie, my heart goes out to you. Such a hard thing to lose the beating heart of a family, yet so comforting to have the small reminders of their lives. Those early morning writing hours: how well I know them. Blessings.🙏
This was so wonderful, reading this in the early morning quiet of my home, languishing. Thank you both for this moment and this incredible writing.
Thank you, Stephanie. I’m so glad you enjoyed this. I’m grateful to Tiffany for sharing this space, and for her kind words of introduction.🙏❤️