Rebecca Nappi and I began writing EndNotes in March 2011 as a bi-weekly, syndicated column on grief, loss, and suffering. We listened to readers, colleagues and friends as they asked questions about etiquette surrounding suffering, death and dying, and loss. “What do I say in...
In a few weeks I will be 60 years old. No other age has rattled me quite like this looming one. Even the numerals themselves portend the coming decade: round without angles and coming full circle. Perhaps other birthday numerals did, too. At 18, the…
I spent 65 minutes with my mom touring her condo. She resides in an assisted-living facility so we weren’t actually in her condo. She was in her power recliner at her new home and I was in the Pacific Northwest. But she called and said,…
Gary Singer of Spokane offered opportunity and hope to Paraguayan children who live in a garbage dump when he decided to donate a stockpile of musical instruments to their orchestra. A 60 Minutes story profiled children playing Mozart on instruments fashioned from garbage. Singer died…
Pope Francis has named 15 new cardinals to the Catholic Church – and they are not from lands of the usual suspects. Most of the new leaders come from lesser-represented areas like Tonga, New Zealand, Cape Verde and Myanmar. The appointments reflect the diversity of…
In 2014, the world lost many impressive people – Eli Wallach, Joan Rivers, Ben Bradlee and others - who shaped our culture, and influenced our understanding of our world and ourselves. As we begin another year, we recall the people who left us – and…
With all the tragedy in the news, one has to wonder what evil deed people will commit next. But Melissa Finnell’s action gives one hope. Melissa saw a car upside down in Tacoma on Saturday. The car was in a water retention pond. And while...
Over the last several weeks I have been home, in Minnesota, where my mother lives. In November she was taken to the hospital after she fell and pushed her Life Alert button. With four daughters living far away, she recovered at home alone, but she...
The raspy-voiced British rocker, Joe Cocker, has died of lung cancer. He was 70 years old. Cocker was a symbol of the rock era of the 60s and 70s. Perhaps his greatest work was that of the Beatles’ song “With a Little Help from my…
On the this Sunday of Advent,I give you a poem, written by L. Patrick Carroll of Seattle. He shares his words each year at this time - a holy gift for this season of waiting, for light, for hope, for the kid next door. Since…
While Advent continues toward Christmas, we look for slivers, slices of light. And when we see light, hope arrives. My friend has stage four cancer. She worries she will never meet her grandchildren so she knits her love into baby sweaters. She has four sweaters…
These December days feel dark with violence in the streets, angry unsettled people screaming. A starving teen of 35 pounds clings to life; a boy hidden behind a wall in his own father’s care finally reunites with his mom. If ever we needed light in…
My mom and Mary met in seventh grade and remained best friends for decades – until Mary’s death from Leukemia. They shared secrets and opinions and their mutual outrageous humor. They even shared their funeral wishes hoping those wishes would be followed. “But our kids…
Anne Lamott writes: as a child she never said grace at her family’s table, but was drawn to her friends’ homes where people paused and recalled blessings before scarfing down the vittles. Thanksgiving is a holiday for every American, no matter their religion – or…
We all deserve to know our own story. Many people who were adopted wonder where they began their life. Michaela Pereira of CNN shares her story of growing up in a family of girls who joined their family through adoption. As an adult, Michaela found…
Mike Nichols died suddenly Wednesday of cardiac arrest. He was 83. Nichols was an admired and award-winning director. His genius earned him Oscar, Emmy and Grammy awards. He won nine Tony awards. Stars loved him: Jack Nicholson, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Ron Silver, Anne Bancroft,…
When couples long for a child and are unable to conceive, they seek various options. Liz and Kevin Krainman opted to “adopt” a snowflake baby – a frozen embryo that was implanted into Liz. The frozen embryo is considered “property” and the rights of the…
Some stories feel too painful to tell, yet they are extraordinary tales of human compassion and resurrection of the spirit. Chris Picco buried his wife, Ashley and their son, Lennon, on Saturday. Chris met his wife while they were both assisting firefighters after the September…
I have been away for nearly three weeks. Traveling home to my native Minnesota and then to the Caribbean with friends from high school, offered perspective. St. Augustine wrote: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” Conversations…
Today we honor our veterans, men and women who left their known lives to serve our country. May we honor all those soldiers who courageously walked into the unknown to serve America. No matter the act of remembrance - free drinks at a local restaurant,…
While Ebola has hit the headlines, we must pay attention to a bigger threat to our health: the flu. Each year that illness claims thousands of lives. People over age 65 and younger than 2 years are at higher risk than others. Anyone who lives…
A previous supervisor told me her husband never votes, never has, never will. And because I wanted to remain employed, I said simply, "Oh, that is interesting." And kept my opinion quiet. He doesn't vote because he believes his vote does not count. Try telling…
Justus Uwayesu started at Harvard this fall as a freshman. He has traveled a long distance – across the globe and through a sea of sadness. As an orphaned child, he lived in a garbage dump in Rwanda. Then along came Clare Effiong, an American…
Art Miller, 91, hung onto life in the open sea for two days during World War II. He knew he had to get home to Norma, the love of his life. He did. They married, raised their children and traveled after his retirement. When we…
When Kelvin Peters was diagnosed with terminal cancer, his young daughters knew they would miss many special moments with him. They knew he would never dance at their weddings. Kaitlin Peters, 21, could not miss that special moment with her dad. She knew her two…
Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.
