Having to let go—of friends, loved ones, relationships, and more—is an all too familiar experience as we grow older.  Honoring the presence, impact and passing of important people in our lives is the point of Dia de Los Muertos. 

Suzanne LaFetra’s moving essay is ostensibly about Day of the Dead.  But, she has poignantly expressed how it feels as the losses of not only people, but other important bits of our lives, accumulate with every passing year.  Although, I’ve never created a Day of the Dead altar, this essay has inspired me to begin next November 1.

Be forewarned, this is a powerful essay.  It describes a woman's life of emotional abuse.  She finally had the courage to tell her story.  Just reading it makes your heart sink to your feet, you can FEEL what it must be like to live with an alcoholic who belittles and seeks control over every little thing about you.

Please forward this to any woman you know whom you suspect may be living with the fear, despair, and humiliation this essay describes.  Then, support her to have the courage to make a change.

Is there one among us who has not felt their spirit shrivel at least a little when they realize they are, gulp, ‘middle-aged’??  AAACK!  Why does that phrase conjure up such visions of drab, boring, and frumpy?  Say it ain’t so!!  Well, it doesn't have to be so.

Our member, Cara Holman, captures that not so good ‘aha’ moment beautifully and then wittily goes on to tell us how she counteracted the feeling of dread and became seriously cool.