re: easy hearty salad

Joel, you sound like a beautiful, delightful person. I, also know firsthand of the emotions you speak of in dealing with a dual loss. Just this past December (2003) I lost my father on the 3rd and my mother followed him on the 29th. Both had been ill, but you're never really prepared. My mother also had Alzheimer's and we all thought perhaps her own illness had spared her the knowledge that her husband had passed away. Given the fact that she went downhill and followed him in death 3 1/2 wks later tells us she must have known something. I take delight that even though we buried her late in December, we had temperatures in the high 40's; I would like to think she had something to do with the warming at that time. She always said she didn't want to be put in that cold ground! But, we have to take comfort in knowing that presumably they are in a better place & together there. Most of my days are better now, but even writing this gets the emotions going.

Ironically, this wasn't my only experience in the duality of death because 5 1/2 yrs ago I lost both of my girl cats on the very, same day.

Please continue to post your own beautiful words.