GRIEVING

Brogan and Damico MySpace ProfileSacramento, California (ThaLunatic Daily) -- Raymond R. Brogan, 41, and Carol Ann Damico, 33, have been arrested on suspicion of bilking almost $200,000 in life insurance benefits from a grief stricken woman who's son was recently killed in a Marine Corps training exercise.Joyce Guzman recently lost her son Lance Cpl Kyle Guzman, an Iraq war veteran, during a Ma

I had a hard time figuring out a suitable title.I just came across an article titled "Bye Bye, Love" in Time Magazine.Business for products aimed at the newly divorced, from greeting cards and postbreakup getaway packages to custom-made cakes and joke gifts like wedding-ring coffins, is booming. New Orleans resident Reneé Savant bought a hearse, thinking she would rent it out for over-the-hill-bi

As the mother of a little girl who is almost three, I read this story and felt ashamed to be British. When their little boy fell from railings in a playground and banged his head, parents Michelle and Chris...

New Adult StudyGrieving Well Last Week's Top FiveWhat's in Your Water Bottle? Christian Pilgrimage 2008 Presbyterian General Assembly Study Pack Prosperity Gospel: Will Jesus Make You Rich? Where Is God When Disaster Strikes? Visit us again next week for our new youth study titled "'Lord, Make Me . . . ': Following St. Francis" and our new adult study "Desert Fathers and Mothers."Click on

Photo from Bring The Rain Blog. The Story of Audrey CarolineI know I said I am going to do a Mothers Day series. I know I said I will start next week. But tonight ... tonight ... my heart goes out to the Moms who I think would have a little bit of sadness comes Mothers Day. How can we encourage them? I don't know ... flowers may help ... but it will never suffice. Hugs? yes, but they still would not be their child's hugs...I'm thinking of the wife of my co-worker whose son died on a motorcycle accident this year. It's her only son. Only son ...I'm thinking of Beth who lost her twin sons James and Jakes just a few months back ...I'm thinking the Mothers of those soldiers who died in the war this past couple of years...and I am thinking of Angie, Audrey Caroline's mom. Please go to he

A grief-stricken Cameron Diaz has received some much-needed support from ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake at a memorial service for her father. The actress is said to be devastated following the sudden death of Emilio, 58, from pneumonia last Tuesday. The oil company foreman had been diagnosed with flu several weeks earlier. The informal service, which was held in Seal Beach, California, on

Are you sometimes overwhelmed by everything you have lost in your divorce? Have you ever wondered if you will ever get passed the grief and get on with your life? It doesn’t have to be this way! Read why the picture is almost always rosier than it feels. More: continued here

By Prof. Ali Mazrui Africa victim of US fight against terror The President of Kenya marched in sympathy with the victims of September 11. The Kenyan Muslims marched against the America bombing of Afghanistan. The then President Moi asked “Why didn’t the Kenya Muslims march when Nairobi was bombed by terrorists in August of 1998?” the Kenya [...]

I have shared with you about my blogging friend Beth losing her twin boys to a still birth.Today, I feel the pain of her grieving as I read her post here. I wanted to say something but didn't know what... Then, I had these words to say, which I believe God led me to say to her:It is not without a reason or purpose that the verse "JESUS WEPT" is written in the Bible. Jesus wept when Lazarus died even though Jesus knows He will raise him up from the dead. Jesus knows our sorrows. He felt it. He felt the pain of every grieving heart. Weep my friend if you need too. Jesus understands. And like Lazarus, your twin baby boys will be raise to be with us all when all of us believers go to heaven. As another Bible verse says "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning". When you

The Journal of the American Medical Association [February 21, 2007—Vol 297, No. 7] published an important article on grief, Maciejewski et al (2007). While it's hardly definitive research, it represents an exciting trend in research that I've seen in recent years. Researchers seem more willing to take some risks with the rigor of their research models to produce information that is immediately relevant to practice. While, we are a long way from having clear guidance towards an evidenced-based practice in psychotherapy, testing models in active use in the field provides immediately useful information. Grief is one of the most common issues that emerge in psychotherapy. Grief unfolds in a purposive and meaningful way from the first awareness of loss. The grief process guides us through t

All parents wish they could shelter their child from grief. No one wants a child, with limited experience and understanding, to have to suffer through the loss of a beloved dog or the death of a treasured parent or grandparent.But real life does include the possibility of such things and children grow up healthiest when they're taught to face reality. How they confront facts can be influenced, positively or negatively, by what they observe from their parents, along with their parents words.Feelings of sadness at the loss of an important value is a natural, even healthy, reaction. Degrees and style will both vary, of course. But the extremes of stoical 'stiff upper lip' or severe, long-term depression may signal an unhealthy message to children.Reactions to loss from children will naturally vary with age. Very young children are rarely able to grasp the permanence or even the disvalue of the loss. Children from around 5-10 will look carefully to parents as a mirror for their own feel

My husband, son, and I took Murphy to the vet. Dr. O asked if I wanted to be with Murphy when they gave her the injection that would end her life. I said I did and my son said he did as well. Dr. O asked if I wanted her to give Murph a sedative. I said I wanted her to do whatever was most humane.Dr. O took Murphy in the back and put in an IV. They returned a few minutes later. The doctor brought a blanket and I sat on it with Murphy--hugging her, kissing her, and telling her how much I loved her--for the last time.The injections only took a few minutes. Murphy died while I embraced her. I was able to do for my dog what I couldn't do for my mother.

Seven weeks ago when we had to board both of our dogs in order to attend my son's college orientation, I was afraid that Murphy might die while we were gone. Although she didn't look sickly, she'd lost a lot of weight. "I don't want her to die without me," I told my husband, "but I want to focus on Alex's big event." So I vowed to put Murph in the back of my mind and I hoped she would remain well during our absence.Three days later, when I arrived at the kennel to pick up the dogs, Murphy was so glad to see me that she licked my face until I had to dry it with a handkerchief. I laughed aloud; I was relieved and grateful. A few weeks later, I put my mother on hospice. On Wednesday, they told me my mother would probably live until Saturday. On Thursday I talked with the head hospice nurse. "Is there is any possibility my mother might die tonight?" I asked,"because if there is, I will sleep here. I have my pajamas." "No, she has a few days left," the nurse replied. "Are you sure?" I

Two months ago on a Sunday morning when Murphy, our ten-year-old black lab, awakened, she had five cysts on her front left leg. They were aligned in a straight row, and unlike other cysts she'd had, they were hard, and appeared over night.I immediately called our vet but because it was a Sunday, we couldn't bring her in until the following day. That afternoon, I went online to research Murphy's symptoms. Everything I read suggested it was cancer. But Murphy seemed so healthy.The next morning, our vet said he'd never seen anything quite like it but he needed a biopsy to be sure. "The fluid is black," he told us. "That's not a good sign.""Is it cancer?" I asked."Probably," he answered.Five days later his diagnosis was confirmed. It was a virulent form of melanoma. I was visiting my dying mother when the vet called and told my husband that Murphy would be dead within one to three months. "This kind of cancer doesn't respond to chemotherapy or radiation," he said. "It's aggressive a

Following these very sad news of the passing away of Hawthorne Heights' guitarist, Casey Calvert, both bands issued the following statements. Also note that the Hawthorne Heights/ Escape The Fate tour is cancelled.Our hearts and condolences go out to Hawthorne Heights at this terrible time. We love you guys.And Yes, the tour is cancelled. NO WE DID NOT BREAK UP. Please send your love to Hawthorne.*§ource: Escape The Fate's myspace*I heard today that Casey Calvert from Hawthorne Heights passed away in his sleep last night. I certainly don't have the right words to say. We were fortunate enough to have the chance to play with him and I remember nothing but smiles when he was around at shows. I am not very good friends with the guys personally but I cannot imagine what they are going through right now. Our thoughts are with them and I am sure they could use some friendly words on their myspace page. Such sad news.-Ryan*§ource: Yellowcard's myspace*

CHICAGO – In my lifetime, Rob Reiner’s “The Princess Bride” has been one of the definitive films servicing the timeless romance and undying adventure in us all.I haven’t felt actor Cary Elwes – and his indelible line “aaaas yoooou wiiiish” while tumbling down a hillside – in quite some time.Catherine (Allison Batty) enjoys a rare afternoon of freedome under thewatchful eye of Sister Felicity (Tasha Ann James) in the Shattered GlobeTheatre’s production of “Suddenly, Last Summer” by Tennessee Williams.Photo courtesy of the Shattered Globe TheatreThe character recently spoke to me again in an intimate, impeccably transformed Chicago playhouse amid Tennessee Williams’ “Suddenly, Last Summer”.The 1958 gothic drama is Shattered Globe artistic director Brian Pudil’s last company presentation and features ensemble member Brian McCaskill as the good doctor.While the case could be made that McCaskill is the show’s weakest link because you can vibe his non-theate

G.M. Hopkins’ Carrion Comfort is a sonnet on desolation and the dark night of his soul. Here, as the title indicates, Despair is a comfort, yet it is also carrion, a putrefying corpse. In the first quatrain, the poet is determined not to abandon himself to Despair that would kill him. Instead, he would [...]

I'm fine. No, really, I'm fine. Oh, thank you. But I'm fine. Yes, fine. Well, I'm okay. But don't worry about me. I'm fine. Fine. That's what you're supposed to say when someone you love dies, right? Sure, you get a grace period, an undetermined number of days to mourn, but after that you pick yourself up by the bootstraps and get on with your life. Life is for the living and all that.

GRIEVING FOR YOUR HAIR LOSS, STAGE 3 BARGAINING (Part 2)By Dave Stern (with Rick Kaempfer)By now, scientists and psychologists all seem to agree with Elizabeth Kubler Ross’ five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. For some reason, however, nobody has ever applied these five stages to men with male pattern baldness. We’re also losing something close to us that has been a part of our lives forever…our hair. But does society, or science, or psychology care about us? No.That’s why we’re going to spend 2007 dedicating one column a month to helping balding men through the stages of grieving. This month we’re concluding Stage 3: Bargaining.Putting together a deal for GodAs you put together your proposal for Him to bargain your way out of baldness, it might behoove you to make sure that you’re speaking to the correct Him via the correct religion. What is the correct religion? Well, we aren’t exactly qualified to tell you that. However, we

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The campus quad looked much as it did after some memorable basketball wins at Wake Forest. Toilet paper hung from trees and fluttered in the breeze as if a traditional victory party had just ended. On Friday, it was there for a different reason: to honor Skip Prosser. The coach — who led the Demon Deacons to their first No. 1 basketball ranking three seasons ago — died Thursday of an apparent heart attack, leaving the university in grief as it tried more…

GRIEVING FOR YOUR HAIR LOSS, STAGE 3 BARGAINING (Part 1)By Dave Stern (with Rick Kaempfer)By now, scientists and psychologists all seem to agree with Elizabeth Kubler Ross’ five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. For some reason, however, nobody has ever applied these five stages to men with male pattern baldness. We’re also losing something close to us that has been a part of our lives forever…our hair. But does society, or science, or psychology care about us? No.That’s why we’re going to spend 2007 dedicating one column a month to helping balding men through the stages of grieving. This month we’re focusing on Stage 3: Bargaining.“Regrets, I have a ton”After you’ve come through the rage, and you begin realizing what awaits you, it’s only natural to start lamenting the times you’ve taken your hair for granted. You’ll also think about the times you may have inadvertently caused the hair loss by your reckless behavior. Don

Grieving for your hair loss, Stage 2 Anger (Part 2)By Dave Stern (with Rick Kaempfer)By now, scientists and psychologists all seem to agree with Elizabeth Kubler Ross’ five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. For some reason, however, nobody has ever applied these five stages to men with male pattern baldness. We’re also losing something close to us that has been a part of our lives forever…our hair. But does society, or science, or psychology care about us? No.That’s why we’re going to spend 2007 dedicating one column a month to helping balding men through the stages of grieving. This month we’re focusing on Stage 2 Anger, but we're doing much more than that. We're telling who to hate, why to hate them, and what to do about it.Pop HateThis stage won’t last forever—you have to hate while the hating is good.We’ve tried to isolate the most heinous examples of fullhead taunters and give you tips for things you can say if you ever

"GRIEVING FOR YOUR HAIR LOSS, STAGE 2 (Anger)"By Dave Stern (with Rick Kaempfer)By now, scientists and psychologists all seem to agree with Elizabeth Kubler Ross’ five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. For some reason, however, nobody has ever applied these five stages to men with male pattern baldness. We’re also losing something close to us that has been a part of our lives forever…our hair. But does society, or science, or psychology care about us? No.That’s why we’re going to spend 2007 dedicating one column a month to helping balding men through the stages of grieving. This month we’re focusing on Stage 2 Anger, first apologizing for those who have displayed this bald anger before, then beginning to offer some tips on where the Stage 2 man should direct his anger.Why are you so upset?“I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore”--Peter Finch, “Network”Fullheads always ask bald people why we’re so upset

GRIEVING FOR YOUR HAIR LOSS-- DENIAL (Part 4)By Dave Stern (with Rick Kaempfer)By now, scientists and psychologists all seem to agree with Elizabeth Kubler Ross’ five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. For some reason, however, nobody has ever applied these five stages to men with male pattern baldness. We’re also losing something close to us that has been a part of our lives forever…our hair. But does society, or science, or psychology care about us? No.That’s why we’re going to spend 2007 dedicating one column a month to helping balding men through the stages of grieving. This month we’re focusing on Stage 1 Denial, and the specific scourge known as: Isolation.You’re Not the FirstIsolation seems like such a logical solution to the problem of hair loss, but we have to believe that anyone who chooses it hasn’t really thought through the process. History is strewn with men who believed that isolation was the only answer. The JewsY

GRIEVING FOR YOUR HAIR LOSS--DENIAL (Part 3)By Dave Stern (with Rick Kaempfer)By now, scientists and psychologists all seem to agree with Elizabeth Kubler Ross’ five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. For some reason, however, nobody has ever applied these five stages to men with male pattern baldness. We’re also losing something close to us that has been a part of our lives forever…our hair. But does society, or science, or psychology care about us? No.That’s why we’re going to spend 2007 dedicating one column a month to helping balding men through the stages of grieving. This month we’re focusing on Stage 1 Denial, and the specific scourge known as: Plugs and PiecesPlugs: Fun with Self Mutilation“They made it sound so easy. How was I supposed to know that drilling 10,000 little holes in my head would be dangerous?”---Nicholas C.“I did it so I could swim better.”--- Jack S.Check any phone book and you’ll see dozens of hair

GRIEVING FOR YOUR HAIR LOSS--DENIAL (Part 2)By Dave Stern (with Rick Kaempfer)By now, scientists and psychologists all seem to agree with Elizabeth Kubler Ross' five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. For some reason, however, nobody has ever applied these five stages to men with male pattern baldness. We're also losing something close to us that has been a part of our lives forever…our hair. But does society, or science, or psychology care about us? No.That's why we're going to spend 2007 dedicating one column a month to helping balding men through the stages of grieving. This month we're focusing on Stage 1 Denial, and the specific scourge known as Bald "Cures"Tools of the trade"There's a sucker born every minute" --P.T. BarnumGrasping at straws and the few hairs that are left, balding men have succumbed, and purchased the following foolish gimmicks...Hot Head (US Patent 6,024,100 / Issued 2000)Heading our list is somethi