A Note from Judy
Life is about connections. We thrive from connections, communication, and networking.
Allison Gilbert @itsallisongilbert champion of connections co-authored a book with the late Ruth K. Westheimer, The Joy of Connections: 100 Ways to Beat Loneliness and Live a Happier and More Meaningful Life.
Jamie Faria, Advocacy Associate of Mesothelioma Hope reached out to me about grief resources. I was pleased to see two organizations to which I am connected on the Mesothelioma Hope list – Open to Hope and Cope.
https://www.mesotheliomahope.com/resources/grief-support/
I made more connections in May when I attended a writing retreat in Holderness NH given by Chris Woodside (https://chriswoodside.com). For three glorious cold days, on beautiful Squam Lake, we explored nature, writing, creativity, and ourselves. I am grateful for the experience, expanding horizons, shared with new friends. Chris generously critiqued a piece of my new manuscript, which proved to be extremely helpful. I appreciated Chris’s insight, which will add new direction and dimension to the piece.
Please join editors Alyson Shelton and Lynn Shattuck, and the brave authors who shared their stories, in celebrating the one-year publication anniversary of The Loss of a Lifetime: Grieving Siblings Share Stories of Love, Loss and Hope. I am honored to have my essay, Celebration of Sisters included in this meaningful project to support sibling loss.
On June 21st, please listen to my meaningful podcast conversation with Jessica Connelly, host of Grieving Sisters.
https://youtube.com/@thegrievingsisters?si=twjyrPRbXb5ImcfS
Sadly, at the end of March, my closest friend, Denise passed away. We met in college and were friends for fifty years. Early risers, Denise and I spoke several times a week at five am. I can hear her voice, “Jude, it’s me.” The two of us shared celebrations, tragedies, challenges, and confidences. We laughed, we cried and sometimes drove each other nuts. An old friend is special, a person whom you share a history. Denise knew my sisters. I miss her and feel for her son. Anyone who has suffered a loss can relate to the magnitude of triggering other losses and revisiting the raw emotions. To find a good friend is a gift, one whom you have sustained a relationship for decades, and whose absence will be a loss and void in my life.
This month we celebrated two family milestone birthdays – my mother turned 95 and my granddaughter Madelyn turned 3. My oldest grandson Benji will turn 7 next month. Where has the time gone?
Wishing you a wonderful summer!
Book Corner
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (I recommend listening to on audio)
“Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn’t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one’s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?”
Sybil Van Antwerp’s life of letters might be “a very small thing,” but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read.
Thick Thighs, Tattoos & Breaking Taboos: How I Lost My Brother and Found Myself Again Through Running and Advocacy by Jen Hoye
I had the pleasure of sitting on an author panel with Jen at the Sibling Summit in April. Jen’s courageous memoir is a heartfelt memoir, filled with honesty, laughter, and hope.
When Jen Hoye lost her brother Teddy to suicide, her world shattered. In the years that followed, she turned to writing, running, humor, and unfiltered advocacy to crawl her way out of the fog. Along the way, she found purpose in the miles, power in the storytelling, and community in the people who showed up to remember and fight beside her.
Memory
A photo taken in August of 1978 before I set off to New York City to work for Bloomingdale’s. Margie, Jane, and I threw a twenty-fifth anniversary party for our parents. I was a nervous wreck about my upending move. My belongings had to be moved to the back storage room to use the basement for the party. I threw a fit. I love this picture, hugging close to my sisters with beaming smiles.
Skating
Fifteen years ago, I attended the Dorothy Hamill Adult Fantasy Skating Camp on Nantucket. I had the honor and pleasure of meeting the kind, humble, generous, and talented Dorothy. She is beautiful inside and out, a vivacious spirit, broad smile, and the maintains the stunning haircut we all adored and wanted to emulate.
I recall with the fondest memories and am grateful to have skating continue to be an integral part of my life.
I leave you with:
“Could never love anyone as I love my sisters.” ~ Jo March, Little Women
I wrote Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late To Grieve to help other surviving siblings. If you know someone who would benefit, please pass along or share your thoughts by writing a review on Amazon: https://a.co/d/dVKPHpv
With deepest gratitude.