You Can’t Hurry Grief
Estimated reading time: 0 minutes, 58 seconds
Grief’s hold on each of us is how we remember the pain of mourning.
It has been sixteen and one-half months since Jan died.
I wake up every morning alone.
I miss Jan more than ever.
Today I am getting my Flu shot and my third COVID booster.
If only they could create a vaccination for grief.
But as Sigrid Nunez writes in The Friend: A Novel,
You can’t hurry, love, as the song goes. You can’t hurry, grief, either.
As painful as my grief journey has been, it reminds me of how much Jan and I loved each other.
Just as Jan and I did not rush our love, I will not rush my grief!
She is still with me, and our love will never die.
The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.
I receive a commission when you buy a book or product using a link on this page. Thank you for supporting Sharing Jan’s Love blog.
While driving there, I listened to an episode of This American Life on WNYC called "Road Trip in a Tuxedo," featuring an interview with the late George Burns conducted by Margy Rochlin.
During the interview portion, I heard George talk about the loss of his wife, Gracie. I was struck by his question about how long someone can cry. Since Jan's death, I've shed many tears, but I know that crying won't bring her back. Jan and I had a wonderful life together, but hers ended too soon.
Now, instead of dwelling on my sadness, I'm trying to reinvent myself. I walk to clear my head and write about Jan to keep her memory alive. I also read a lot, hoping to find guidance for my journey. But I still need to figure out exactly who I will become. All I can do is walk with Jan's spirit beside me and move forward.
You Can't Hurry Love
Estimated reading time: 0 minutes, 58 secondsThe Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love” was performed on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on September 25, 1966.
