Thank you for this beautiful piece, Ann. I got to know you during those hard days of adjusting and suffering with your mom. You struggled and you stayed. You’ve done so much to help others with dementia since. My mother and I had powerful moments of soul contact and dream-like conversations expressing deep love during her many years of Alzheimer’s. Yes, chocolate ice cream always brought a smile.

Thank you, Iraida. I apologize that it took so long for me to find your comment. I’m grateful your parents had/have that kind of love and it’s wonderful you were raised surrounded by it. Blessings.

Sandy, it still helps me when I read something that reflects my feelings and other-world experiences following my husband’s death, so your comment makes me feel connected to you. It also makes me feel I’ve done my job as a writer. Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I’m so sorry your husband died and how hard it is to lose that primary relationship.. May the Love live on.

Wow! I’m weeping as I read your message. My heart ached in the most physical way in the weeks and months after my husband’s death. You received an image of the “sacred heart” to last a lifetime. An unforgettable image of the power of Love. We feel ripped in two as though half of us or more is gone forever but in time we realize things were rearranged and now we hold them in the deepest and sweetest part of our heart. When we call on them, they are always there.

And thank you for sharing yours.

Thank you. I’ve studied world philosophies under the wings of many teachers. One of my first teachers, although I did not meet him in the body, was Ramana Maharshi. I also went to India three times to spend weeks sitting with Sri Sankaracharya. I have been deeply transformed in the ten years since my husband’s death. Death and Love are our ultimate teachers. Thanks for sending the article. I’ll have a look.

Thank you, Cintia. I’ve learned a lot by looking closely at death (my husband and my parents) and also from hospice bereavement work. Being aware of mortality helps me remember what matters. Thanks so much for the hug and kindness. A virtual hug to you, Elaine

Those are two huge gifts, Gina. I’m glad you received them because both give comfort and help us live well when people who are dear to us have died. Before his death, my husband said to me, “If you love yourself just half as much as I love you, you’ll be all right.” I’ve been saying those words to myself for nearly eight years. Thanks so much for your comment.

It was beautiful for both of us and everyone in the room, Ann. We were all dabbing at our wet eyes. He had lost so much, but wasn’t focused on that. He was only nterested in what he’d been able to give for love. thanks for taking time to comment.

Beautiful reflections, Anna. Of course, I need the lessons as much as anyone, which is why I was so deeply impressed by this gentleman and his desire to tell his love story. One of the few good things about my husband’s illness and my deep grief after his death was the need for endless doing stopped for a while.