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Author: Barbara Falconer Newhall

Sheltering at Home Revisited: The Virus Arrives

covid-19-warning

Sheltering at home revisited: The virus arrives, the shutdowns go into effect, and we find out how much our “mere” acquaintances mean to us.  Read more.

Widowed: The One Good Thing About Grief


the one good thing about grief damaged-mandala

The one good thing about grief  is — there’s not a darned thing you can do about it. Someone has died, and that’s that.  Read more.

A Leap Year Leap: She Asked. He Said Yes.

jon-newhall-1976

Widowed: Jon and I had been dating for several years. No marriage proposal was coming my way. But a Leap Day was. Read more.

Widowed: He’s Still Not Back and It’s Been Three Years

widowed he's still not back  rain-february-19-bay-area

Where is Jon? I’ve been widowed three years and I’m still expecting him to come back. It’s not possible that he is gone for good, snuffed out.  Read more.

Widowed: The Things My Husband Wanted. (Or, We Are What We Want)

JON-NEWHALL

I feel the sharpest grief when I picture my husband alive and wanting something, planning something — picking out artichokes for dinner, making a grandchild laugh. Read more.

Widowed: We’re Older and Kinder Now

we're older and kinder now kindness-carey-mulligan-as-felicia-montealegre

I’m older and kinder now, but not because I’m a virtuous goody-good. It’s my irresponsible id, my reptilian brain, that wants to be kind.  Read more.

California Clay: Oozing, Writhing, Glistening Art. Now at the Bedford Gallery

blot-by-Mary-Alison-Lucas

Bedford Gallery’s “California Clay” show, where ceramic art forgets to look like art and chooses instead to ooze, glisten, drip and writhe.  Read more.

Nature Giveth and Nature Taketh Away

white blossoms of flowering tree up close

nature giveth. nature taketh away. flowering-tree

Against all odds, a flowering fruit tree took root in the wild canyon below our house, but not for long. Nature giveth, nature taketh away.  Read more.

Am I Still Old? Or Am I Elderly Now?

am-i-still-old-or-am-i-elderly-now-grab-bar-bathroom

Head-spinning vertigo had me stumbling around the house like an old lady. I had to wonder, am I still just old? Or have I moved on to being elderly?  Read more.

Widowed: Am I Grieving? Or Am I Just Lonely?

empty-home-office

Am I grieving, or am I just lonely? When I spotted my husband’s empty office chair, I was overcome by — what? Sorrow? Or simple loneliness?   Read more.

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