Author, Speaker & Grief Counselor
The anniversary of the fire that devastated Lahaina was last month. It has taken me this long to process my feelings about it. My dear friend Waltye Rasulala asked if I had viewed the documentary about the fire. I told her that I could not because it is too hard. … Read the rest
I am in the process of creating a crowd-funding page for my friend Beth and her daughter Becky. My heart aches so badly for them. They are the remaining family members out of five.
Okay, sit down while you read this, because this family’s story is difficult to fathom. Beth … Read the rest
The grief that comes from your child or any loved one dying is horrific. But sometimes surviving sucks too. It is like a spiral. You fight to stay alive by any means possible, but your quality of life can be screwed up forever. I was just talking about how I … Read the rest
So, I went to Maui to talk with a few folks who needed to process what happened when Lahaina burned. I stayed in South Maui, and it was eerie the first time I drove to the West Side. There are screens up along the bypass, and police spread out along … Read the rest
Today marks three years since my daughter, Ke’ili, was hospitalized after being in bed for five weeks thinking she had Covid. It turned out to be Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. My heart froze when she called me to say she was on her way to the ER. 30 minutes later; she … Read the rest
My husband Steve’s sweet, kind, generous all-around fabulous uncle Charlie just crossed over the rainbow bridge. We knew he was on borrowed time because of the type of cancer he had., but it still hurts like heck. Charlie was quiet, funny, and very talented musically, but most of all, he … Read the rest
Some days are better than others. I found out yesterday that my mammo from last week came back clear. It was a relief and an eye-opener. I didn’t even realize I had been holding my breath for a week. It’s been 10 years, and apparently, I subconsciously still worry about … Read the rest
Okay, so I have been extra careful for the last two and a half years, mainly because I have asthma and a child with leukemia, but still, I got Covid from my sister, who let her guard down for a brief lapse of time at a memorial service. Anyway, wah! … Read the rest
When my son Cory was six years old, he was trying to make a point about life after death. He grabbed a box of macaroni from the pantry. With a flourish, he ripped the top off the TV and dumped the contents on the dining room table. He then separated … Read the rest
The June Gloom, which follows May Gray, is real here in Southern California. The weather can affect one’s mood, as you possibly already know. It feels like a physical manifestation of the sadness I feel about what has been happening in our country lately. The news has recently focused on … Read the rest