My loves, I wrote something about being with my friend Ali while she was dying. It's here. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. I, for one, am happily full in every way I can think of. xo
Gah! I've tried to comment three times now. I hope this doesn't show up three times!
Your piece about Ali was amazing ... just like life itself ... beautiful and funny, sad and terrible, and everything in between. I'm so sorry you lost your friend. Wishing you all the best.
That article was so beautiful. I plan to share iron Facebook but now I wonder how in the world to present it. I am thinking: "Please take a moment to read this beautifully written story. Catherine taps into everything important, beautiful, sacred and profane about an event we will all encounter, but try to diligently ignore"
Oy. What a story. Beautifully written, though I imagine not a story you ever wanted to write. Thanks for distilling it into such clear, present words for us.
I've had some major losses in the recent years and this fills (or empties?) my heart. I've been making dinner and trying to find the words to thank you for writing, thank you for helping Ali pass on, to somehow give you comfort and let you know just how important it was and brave it is to face the pain and put yourself through it. I don't have the words, but I'm sending you love and compassion and respect.
So specific to you but so universal too like all the best writing is. It is so unhinging and reassuring both to feel things like irritation and impatience even deep in the middle of crazy profound waves. Nothing is just one thing, not even death and the fact that there was much more work than just grieving knocked the breathe out of me.
I don't have the right words but still wanted to comment. Your piece was a beautiful tribute to your friend. I've just erased three sentences, so I'll just stop trying I guess. I will forever enjoy your writing - even on such a heartbreaking topic. I am very sorry for your loss. I've read some really good articles on death and one paragraph just nailed it.. I didn't save it and can't find it. I wish I could send it to you though. Love to you dear C.
I'm sitting as silently as possible willing my baby to go back to sleep and not wake his brother and then I read this and am now trying to not sob out loud. You have a special talent for articulating life, the tragic, great, boring, wonderful parts of life. Lots of love to you and Ali's family.
I was so unbelievably touched to open the NY Times this weekend and find your beautiful, heartbreaking piece in the Sunday Review section. I'm happy and sad for you at the same time. It's lovely. Thank you for sharing it.
I read this, then read it again, then read it again and again. My darling, wonderful, funny, supportive mummy is in the middle of waiting for cancer tests plural and I don't know how to keep going, breathing, feeding small children, reading reading books and just brutal living and my heart feels like it's breaking in pieces. And yet your writing keeps me going, keeps me keeping on and I feel so sad for you, your lovely friend and oh my god her children. Your writing sustains me so much - please keep writing writing writing x
Heartbreakingly sad and no truer words. I'm sure I broke a few grammer/spelling rules but these were my first thoughts...along with tears and sobs and just...ache. Love to you, Catherine. xo
Wow, Catherine. Thank you so much for writing this. This was so true to my experience caring for my mom when she was dying and then having babies years later, and the uncanny similarity of caring for them. Thank you for putting it into words. This was healing for me to read. Thank you, Catherine.
Well, you've done it again: you've somehow gotten inside my head and articulated my exact thoughts, this time about how we all have to die. I mean, duh, but really, WOW. Thank you. Now I'll wipe away the tears and go brush my daughter's teeth in the most present and grateful way such a dull chore can be done.
Absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGah! I've tried to comment three times now. I hope this doesn't show up three times!
ReplyDeleteYour piece about Ali was amazing ... just like life itself ... beautiful and funny, sad and terrible, and everything in between. I'm so sorry you lost your friend. Wishing you all the best.
This is awful and beautiful and perfectly written. All the love in the universe to you and Ali's other loved ones.
ReplyDeleteThat article was so beautiful. I plan to share iron Facebook but now I wonder how in the world to present it. I am thinking: "Please take a moment to read this beautifully written story. Catherine taps into everything important, beautiful, sacred and profane about an event we will all encounter, but try to diligently ignore"
ReplyDeleteI also feel like typos in comments are there to keep us humble 😉
ReplyDeleteOy. What a story. Beautifully written, though I imagine not a story you ever wanted to write. Thanks for distilling it into such clear, present words for us.
ReplyDeleteI love you, Catherine.
ReplyDeleteI've had some major losses in the recent years and this fills (or empties?) my heart. I've been making dinner and trying to find the words to thank you for writing, thank you for helping Ali pass on, to somehow give you comfort and let you know just how important it was and brave it is to face the pain and put yourself through it. I don't have the words, but I'm sending you love and compassion and respect.
ReplyDelete<3
ReplyDeleteThank you for breaking my heart open to let in a little more love. You have a beautiful soul.
ReplyDeleteOh my god. That was heartbreakingly beautiful and true. And the comments your piece generated--humanity (mostly) at its finest.
ReplyDeleteOh, Catherine, the NYT piece made my heart ache. Thank you for sharing your experience with such eloquence. I am so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteSo specific to you but so universal too like all the best writing is. It is so unhinging and reassuring both to feel things like irritation and impatience even deep in the middle of crazy profound waves. Nothing is just one thing, not even death and the fact that there was much more work than just grieving knocked the breathe out of me.
ReplyDeleteI don't have the right words but still wanted to comment. Your piece was a beautiful tribute to your friend. I've just erased three sentences, so I'll just stop trying I guess. I will forever enjoy your writing - even on such a heartbreaking topic. I am very sorry for your loss. I've read some really good articles on death and one paragraph just nailed it.. I didn't save it and can't find it. I wish I could send it to you though. Love to you dear C.
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting as silently as possible willing my baby to go back to sleep and not wake his brother and then I read this and am now trying to not sob out loud. You have a special talent for articulating life, the tragic, great, boring, wonderful parts of life. Lots of love to you and Ali's family.
ReplyDeleteI was so unbelievably touched to open the NY Times this weekend and find your beautiful, heartbreaking piece in the Sunday Review section. I'm happy and sad for you at the same time. It's lovely. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful - my heart aches, dear Catherine.......thank you for your bravery....I am sorry beyond words for your loss <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteI read this, then read it again, then read it again and again. My darling, wonderful, funny, supportive mummy is in the middle of waiting for cancer tests plural and I don't know how to keep going, breathing, feeding small children, reading reading books and just brutal living and my heart feels like it's breaking in pieces. And yet your writing keeps me going, keeps me keeping on and I feel so sad for you, your lovely friend and oh my god her children. Your writing sustains me so much - please keep writing writing writing x
ReplyDeleteHeartbreakingly sad and no truer words. I'm sure I broke a few grammer/spelling rules but these were my first thoughts...along with tears and sobs and just...ache. Love to you, Catherine. xo
ReplyDeleteWow, Catherine. Thank you so much for writing this. This was so true to my experience caring for my mom when she was dying and then having babies years later, and the uncanny similarity of caring for them. Thank you for putting it into words. This was healing for me to read. Thank you, Catherine.
ReplyDeleteWell, you've done it again: you've somehow gotten inside my head and articulated my exact thoughts, this time about how we all have to die. I mean, duh, but really, WOW. Thank you. Now I'll wipe away the tears and go brush my daughter's teeth in the most present and grateful way such a dull chore can be done.
ReplyDeleteI won't even try to say it perfectly myself, but this piece was so very perfect. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful, Catherine. Thanks so much for putting it into the world. xo
ReplyDelete