Books .....?

I had an idea yesterday.

Yes .... everyone should pay attention since I don't get them all that often.

What can I say .... it was a banner day (it really was because I saw Iron Man 2 and it was so much fun!).

Anyway, before I digress on the wonderfulness of Robert Downey, Jr, a man I'd love to sit down and have a conversation with ..... oops, I'm digressing ....

I had a reader e-mail me the other day (hi, L) and ask about what books I would recommend for someone who had recently been widowed.

I'm always humbled when someone contacts me in such a case. It breaks my heart to hear of new people on this road, but I'm also glad that my grief can be of some help to someone else, whether it's someone dealing with grief themselves, or someone who's wondering how best to help a loved one through this.

I'm thankful that Jim's death and my grief aren't "wasted" .... that I can support someone else in some small way.

Anyway, I gave her a short list of books that I liked. I must also add here that I didn't ..... couldn't ..... read anything for at least 6 or 9 months. I hated that growing stack of books that people kept adding to. But I was grateful for it later.

So ..... back to my original idea ..... I wanted to ask all of the Peeps out there who've gone through grief, especially those who've been widowed ..... were there any books, DVD's, web sites, CDs, etc. that helped you?

I have recommended For Widows Only by Annie Estlund and Widow to Widow by Genevieve Davis Ginsburg.

My very favorite book is Healing After Loss, by Martha Whitmore Hickman. It's like a devotional book with short readings for each day of the year. But it's not overly "religious" at all. I usually keep a few copies on hand to give to new widows when I meet them. That's how I got it .... from another widow. Everyone I know who's read it loves it.

For web sites I recommend The Widows' Voice website: http://widowsvoice-sslf.blogspot.com

It's a blog that I write on one day a week (there are 7 of us who each have a day) and it gives you other women (and men) to connect with.

That will lead to the Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation web page, http://www.sslf.org, and they have some great programs. We are getting ready to have the 2nd annual Camp Widow in San Diego in August. I highly recommend it to anyone if they can go.

So ..... Peeps, can you please add to this list so that we can all see what's out there that has helped someone?

You don't have to be widowed to help me out here. Many of you have experienced the death of someone close to you .... a child, a parent, sibling, friend, etc. If you found something that helped you or a loved one then please let us know what it was.

I'd appreciate it very much .... as would many other people.

I promise.

Happy Wednesday, Peeps.

And thank you.

:)