Another Thing That Happened When My Mother Died: the Gift of Approval

My mother's death changed my life, but not just in the statistical manner in which I became another daughter with a dead mother. My mother's death changed my life not just in the ways you might guess or imagine from your own experience, but in ways that are unique to my life. Some of those …

Another Thing that Happens When Your Mother Dies – Number 100-n-somethin’: Crafting with Purpose – Loose Ends Project

Do you remember the blog post series I started on March 23rd, 2018 just a month after my mom died? Things To Expect When Your Mother Dies. I haven't forgotten about it. I am giving it internet airspace again. I keep scrawling in my journal dedicated to this project. There are 100-n-something entries now (five …

California’s End of Life Option Act – Medical Aid in Dying update: SB 380 was signed into law – changes go into effect January 1st, 2022

California's SB 380 to improvement medical aid-in-dying law was signed by Gov. Newsom on October 5th! Join me for a presentation about the improvements to California's End of Life Option Act which go into effect January 1st, 2022.

Check out my Guest Post over on University of Colorado’s Palliative Care Graduate Program

This morning I have the triple privilege of experiencing the blend of the elusive writer's high, the honor of being published, and the deep satisfaction I get from continuing to share stories about my mom for the edification of others. This rewarding and rare combination is about my heart. I'm calling today Trifecta Tuesday! The …

Becoming Soil When You Die – Human composting aka Natural Organic Reduction is a thing!

I am a gardener by nature and have tended a few compost piles over the years. I found the benefits of maintaining the heap of nutrient-dense material totally outweighed some minor annoyances that went along with the process, like field mice moving in and chickens spreading the pile all over the yard. I love the …

Death Leads the Way – Why I continue to follow the invitations and you should too

I received a new invitation and I want to share it with you! While I prefer to plan out my life, make goals and work diligently towards them, shite happens despite my wishes and best efforts. Sometimes when shite happens, I have decisions to make: Follow the invitations or try to go some other way. …

My Conversation about Medical Aid-in-Dying in California – Listen to community radio KVMR 89.5 Embracing the Journey Podcast with Lori Burkhart Frank

A podcast focused on the peace and freedom that comes from talking about death. Embracing the journey means accepting the inevitability of death and discussing our values and priorities in terms of life and death.

10 Things Californians Should Know about Medical Aid-in-Dying & Why it Matters to Me

Writing and speaking publicly about my mother's death story makes my heart pick up the beat and sing from the depths where love, compassion, and our relationship lives. My mother died from breast cancer in February 2018. She used medical aid-in-dying to end unbearable pain and suffering caused by terminal cancer's relentless growth and destruction …

Free Webinar: End of Life Options in the time of COVID-19 – May 20th 10-11a (PST)

This free webinar includes general information regarding COVID19 and a basic overview of California's End of Life Option Act.

Book Review: Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal

Regina's Closet: Finding My Grandmother's Secret Journal ~Diana Raab  Part memoir, part diary of the author's grandmother Regina, Regina's Closet kept my attention page after page. It was a fast read I could hardly put down. The author has woven her emotional struggle to process her grief with excerpts from her grandmother's diary given to …