The holidays are a time for rushing around and getting things done. Unfortunately, some of our church family have not managed to stay upright. Two have fallen, resulting in broken bones and the necessary medical care that follows. Two others are hospitalized with serious illnesses.
During crisp Autumn afternoons, we’ve enjoyed intense desert sunshine and clear skies however the mornings have been a different story. Every winter, we endure a few days of pogonip. Pronounced just like it looks, Po-go-nip is a Shoshone word for a dense winter fog with frozen particles in the western high desert plains. If you don’t need to go outside, it’s absolutely beautiful. On a clear morning the sky dancings with particles of ice resembling tiny floating diamonds.
Outside, things look desert dry. There’s been no rain or snow for weeks, yet the pogonip coats the ground with a thin layer of slick, invisible ice. Ice is any senior’s biggest fear. Falling often results in broken bones. What a way to end the holiday festivities!
Last week, we held our first Griefshare meeting with friends from the church. Neither HHH nor I knew what to expect. How could we lead a group of grieving adults when we’d never done that before? At that time, no one had yet signed up for the class. With a box of yummy snacks and our faith, we headed to the church to wait for attendees.
During the first meeting of four, we learned a lot about each other. With plenty of time for sharing, those who needed to speak did so. Personal experiences added to the lesson and the time flew by.
After hugs and well wishes, everyone seemed to leave with a lighter heart. HHH and I were both relieved that the first class was a success, although smaller than we hoped. Since then, two more people have joined our group. If we double each week, we’ll need more chairs by the end of the class!
Just this week, I was talking to a friend about the class.
“Well, I wouldn’t have anything to add to the class. I’m still really angry with my late husband.”
Anger. It’s part of the grief package. Along with every other emotion one might feel is inappropriate. With a little more discussion, maybe she’ll join us.
During Week 2 , we’ll speak of the unique nature of grief. I’ll be up early to bake a fresh Lemon-Blueberry pound cake drizzled with deliciousness. Add something salty and we’ll be ready for our group.
If you’re struggling with grief during the holidays, Google “Archive.org/details/Griefshare and watch a few of the videos you’ll find there. These videos were produced in 2014 and contain helpful and comforting information.