Just Another Screwy Sunday
October 20, 2025 No CommentsPhoto of local run/walk under the Jura hills 25 August 2019 In 1986, back in the last millennium, back when there were dinosaurs, there was a popular song by The Bangles – “Manic Monday”. In the song, the lead singer wants to go back to Sunday. “It’s just another manic Monday I wish it was […]
Read MoreHealing Hurts
October 20, 2025 1 Comment17 August 2019 I often receive wise, warm words from friends. One friend, John C, yesterday wrote about how nothing in his grief is linear or predictable. Another, Mee-Yan, commented on the co-existence of strength and fragility, and the simultaneousness of myriad, varied emotions. And yet another, Laurence, wrote about the co-existence of ecstatic happiness […]
Read MoreFinding my (New) Community that I didn’t know Existed
October 20, 2025 2 CommentsFeatured Photo by Sarah Treanor (streanor.com) 10th August 2019 A need has been bubbling to the surface of my consciousness these past days as our “holiday” in the Dominican Republic draws to a close and my mind and heart, inevitably, lurch to “back home-ness”. As the incomprehension of my cumulative losses begins to make itself […]
Read MoreImpossible Questions, Unthinkable Answers
October 20, 2025 4 CommentsPhoto taken at Buen Hombre, Dominican Republic 3 August 2019 We (the new “we”; yet another new “we”) are in the Dominican Republic. On “holiday”. On holiday from what? Or for what? On holiday from “normality”? No. On holiday for “recovery”? For “healing”? No. Just on holiday. A different space than our usual space for […]
Read MoreAbsurdities_2
October 20, 2025 No Comments27th July 2019 So many absurdities about today. About this day, about this date. This date this year, and this date in recent years. Today is Mike’s birthday. He would be 56. Except he’s not because he’s forever 53. Mike is not here. Julia is not here. The incredulousness of those two absurdities is too […]
Read MoreWandering and Wondering
October 20, 2025 5 Comments23 July 2019 Tomorrow morning, before dawn, which is very early in these parts at this time of year, “my two older kids and I” head off on holiday. To the Dominican Republic. The mix of emotions couldn’t be greater. Julia chose our destination. She was insistent on NOT having a European holiday despite my […]
Read MoreAbsurdities_1
October 20, 2025 3 Comments19th July 2019 Image by Sarah Treanor (streanor.com) I write _1 because I sense there will be a whole series of Absurdities posts. Everything is absurd right now. I just got curious about the etymology of the word – apparently two main roots – “absurdus” meaning “out of tune” or “discordant”, and “surdus” meaning “deaf” […]
Read MoreSo how do I, Emma, now carry on?
October 20, 2025 11 Commentswritten for Julia’s funeral on 15th July 2019, posted on 18th July I have had four too-close deaths in the past few years. My dear friend Don, a best male friend of 30 years who died in September 2015 My youngest brother Edward, who died in January 2016. His daughters Isabelle & Nina are here […]
Read MoreFearful, Fear-full, Full of Fear
October 20, 2025 4 Commentswritten on 20 June 2019, posted on 17 July Image Courtesy of Sarah Treanor www.streanor.com I haven’t written for what feels like ages. I’ve missed it. And that’s because there are two enormous pieces of my life – even three – that I feel are taboo – certainly in terms of the internet and my […]
Read MoreAn Exploration of Being Nice and Kind
October 20, 2025 No CommentsWriting Prompt from Megan Devine on 28 May 2019 Artwork by Sarah Treanor (streanor.com) We don’t tear into people when they say insensitive things. We don’t point out how unhelpful or mean something is, even when it’s flat-out rude. Why? Because we’re being “nice.” If you point out that “everything happens for a reason” is […]
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