A Note from Judy
Please join me in celebrating the publication of the anthology, The Loss of Lifetime: Grieving Siblings Share Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope, edited by Lynn L. Shattuck and Alyson Shelton to be released June 17th on Amazon. The sibling loss essay collection gives voice to “invisible mourners” I am honored and proud to have my essay, Celebration of Sisters be included amongst a group of twenty-six surviving siblings who share their heartfelt stories hoping others will not be alone in their grief.
In May, I traveled to New York to record for the Open to Hope cable TV with the wonderful Heidi and Gloria Horsley, founders of the Open to Hope, champions for the grieving community. I was thrilled to meet Susan Casey, Ona Gritz, and Lynn Shattuck. We’ve connected online but meeting in person provided a deeper connection, and very emotional for all of us. Please visit opentohope.com in a few weeks to listening to the recordings.
Another milestone…ten years of contributing to Open to Hope! Here are my most recent articles.
https://www.opentohope.com/how-many-siblings-do-you-have/
https://www.opentohope.com/caring-for-surviving-siblings/
https://www.opentohope.com/echoes-of-earlier-losses/
Grief is a challenging subject to discuss. Death a Funny Business, a podcast started by Becky Briggs and Natasha Spencer-Levy in the hope to make death a less taboo topic, tackling it with humor, openness, and real talk. Having lost their parents young, they dive into grief covering many topics. We engaged in a conversation about grief, suppressed grief, and honoring our loved ones.
https://www.fubarradio.com/.../having-a-cry-losing.../...
My writing journey continues to develop. I am working on a fiction manuscript which I’ve decided to put on pause. Marion Roach’s QWERTY Podcast interview with Joan Wickersham shed a new light on there is no timeline for completing your work. Joan’s memoir, The Suicide Index: Putting My Father’s Death In Order, took eleven years to complete, putting it on hold for a time and writing a powerful story. A creative writing course added a new dimension to my writing and encouraged me to explore avenues never traveled. The decision to alter the direction to take is exciting and provides a new challenge. I realize I’ve created unnecessary pressure, timelines, and rigidness. Relaxing enhances and deepens the experience.
Forced to take a month hiatus from skating, I missed everything skating – the community, smell of the rink, gliding across feeling the breeze, and pure joy. Coming back learning to give myself grace and time to get back up to speed, and grateful for every precious moment I skate.
Finding a balance with family, writing, and skating, and not feel overwhelmed forces me to be organized. I am thankful for the opportunities afforded to me at this stage in my life. The adage if you ask a busy person to do a task they find time. Creating structure to an unstructured life is difficult. Daily to do lists seem to work but often need tweaking. I’ve tried to back off creating unnecessary pressure on myself. This is my time, my passions, and wherever it leads, I am grateful.
Book Corner
I was fortunate to meet Joanne and her husband Greg at the Dorothy Hamill Adult Fantasy Skating Camp in 2011. On the ferry back from Nantucket we chatted and met up with Joanne and Greg at the U.S. Figure National Championships in Boston. Their passion for figure skating, the skaters, is evident in the Skating Forward books written by Joanne. She interviewed me for Forever Skating Forward and is a contributor to Skating Magazine and is adored by skaters throughout the world. Please check out her series and be inspired by skaters of all levels and ages.
Thinking About Memoir by Abigail Thomas, is as the talented writer says,
"Memory seems to be an independent creature inspired by an event, not faithful to it." "Writing memoir is a way to figure out who you used to be and how you got to be who you are."
Memory
I am eternally grateful that one of Margie’s friends shared a memory of the lively Lipson household. She remembered that instead of saying be quiet, one of the Lipson sisters would say, “be fiet you fu fu.” Our own special language.
Skating
What a treat to volunteer at ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston!! I was part of the Hospitality Committee at the Stretti Rink overlooking the water near the North End. The women and ice dancers practiced. Fun to meet new volunteers, see skating friends, and watch beautiful skating.
The United States placed in the top ten in all three disciplines: three gold medals in women’s, men’s, and ice dancing. People gave moving tributes to the skaters tragically lost in January and to the late legendary Olympic skating medalist, Dick Button.
Wishing you all an enjoyable summer, full of sunshine, rest, and peace.
I leave you with a quote from Mary Oliver,
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"