Barbara’s Riffs on Life

Widowed: We Buried My Husband Last Week

I worried that I would let Jon down. I worried that this last thing I could do for him would fall short and I would fail him. Read more.

How to grieve? I don’t know. I’m not ready to give up being broken-hearted, outraged, horrified at the sudden death of my husband. Read more.

As I see it, there are two big, big things to do before you die. Take photos of yourself, lots of them. And write your own obituary. Read more.

Dancing makes me cry. When I joined a Zumba class the other day, I stayed at the back of the class, because I knew there would be tears. Read more.

I’m turning 80 and I’m hoping for gifts: grandkids art for the fridge, plants for the new backyard. And a gift only my readers can give. Read more.

Poetry for kids that inspires gratitude, by Emily Dickinson, Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro, Kenn Nesbitt and — me. Read more.