New Year

About the Book

This memoir details the author’s experiences and growth in the year after her husband’s sudden death. As she untangles the complex web of emotions around losing a beloved partner who struggled with health problems and alcohol addiction among other things, she remembers good times and commemorates the positive impact he had on the world. She also compares her grief at the changes in her mother, stricken with dementia, to the signs of early dementia exhibited by her husband, and she examines family relationships, broken and healed, on both sides. This thoughtful memoir is a realistic look at the grieving process, our societal expectations of the bereaved, and the Christian challenge to love and forgive our complicated and very human companions on this earth.

About the Author

There’s really not much to say. I was born and raised in Minneapolis and spent the majority of my life married to the love of my life, David. I had 2.5 children. It was New Year’s Eve 2013 when my life drastically changed. I had no idea what a widow goes through until I became one. After journaling for a few months, I realized I had something to say to more than my small group of friends. My journaling became a memoir, dare I say a whimsical look at widowhood. Not. But those who know me know I can’t stay serious for long. Part of my coping mechanism is to find the funny. This work is a strange balance of experiencing and analyzing grief, reminiscing over forty-plus years, applause to and dependence on a loving God, and a smattering of mildly crude humor (this is my disclaimer for my church friends). My hope is that as I analyze my first year as a widow, my experiences might provide clarity to others in the same situation or understanding for those dealing with someone who is grieving.