Thank you, Joost van Beek and team at Nurse Recruiter, for selecting my blog to be among their top nurse blogs for 2019. This is their second year for examining nursing blogs, and I've made their cut this year for a second time. I appreciate their dedication to this project! This organization groups their top …
Category: retirement
Grace Notes #14 – Grief at Six Months
Marv passed away six months and fourteen hours ago. I'm feeling it is time for me to move on. To leave these “grace” related posts on dying and death and move increasingly toward my “new normal.” I don’t mind that expression, although I know some do. They say there will never be another “normal.” But …
Crossroads Hosts Book Signing of Caring Lessons – Nurses Week, 2018
Crossroads, 1220 W. 41st Street in Sioux Falls, will be hosting a book signing of Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self on Saturday, May 12, from 10 to 11:30am. May 12 is the final day of Nurses Week and Florence Nightingale's birthday. The owner asked that I publicize my book signing to …
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God’s Grace #11: Another Hug Tour…
We spent a week on the road, traveling southeast to Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana and visiting several nieces, nephews, and friends. Marv drove all 2000 miles. I came home worn out, while Marv still had his usual energy. Looking back a week later, I remember all the warm conversations and laughter. But I also think …
God’s Grace #10: Given “Extra” Time
When I was a psychiatric nursing grad student in the 80s, I did a clinical practicum on an oncology unit. As I live through our "waiting game" now, I remember what one of my patients said to me. He'd been given six months to live and had outlived his six months. "I've said good bye …
Eighth Blogging Anniversary
WordPress notified me today that I started this blog eight years ago. I remember the day precisely. I’d just heard a favorite writing teacher, Helen Gallagher, tell our group that if we had a book coming out, we must start a blog at least six months ahead of time to help establish a platform. I’d …
God’s Grace #9: A Writing Respite
Yesterday, I got excited about writing again while reading an article on the Books page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. John McPhee, winner of the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded by the National Books Critic Circle, defined creative nonfiction as “not making something up but making the most of what you have.” I love …
God’s Grace #8: On the Lighter Side of Living with Small Cell Lung Cancer
We are having a break now from our relentless focus on the diagnosis of cancer; we are finished with most of the paperwork and farewell visits. Last Tuesday, we went to Marv’s hometown in MN, concluding the visit of relatives there with a stop at the cemetery where he could express “see you soon” sentiments …
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God’s Grace #6: Farewell Hug Tour
At the end of February, Marv asked me to organize a “last hug” tour to family and friends in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Chicago. I worked up a schedule for the following week and sent it on to the folks he wanted to see and said I hoped it would work for them. We are …
God’s Grace #4: Tidying Up
Marv purged the pantry today. He’s been our grocery shopper and dinner maker for 46 of our 55 years. I think he doesn’t want me to find outdated cans when I take over his role. This week has been one in which we are planning for my future. His is secure; we just don’t know …
Write Along with Me 