I went to my favorite discount store to see the new fall clothing. While I was pushing my cart past a woman, I commented, “Passing on the right.” After I passed the woman I turned to her and said, “We’re looking at long-sleeved tops. It’s hard to believe summer is over and fall is here.” She smiled a bit and looked at me.

“I’m here to buy something to wear to my mother’s memorial service,” she said. “My mother died two days ago.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

The woman went on to tell me her 29-year-old son committed suicide last year. She didn’t understand his suicide and hasn’t felt the same since. Two deaths, so close together, had clearly devastated this mother.

Still standing by the rack of long-sleeved tops, I told her I was a grief writer. I asked her if she knew about The Compassionate Friends and Open to Hope. While she had heard of The Compassionate Friends, Open to Hope was new to her. Fumbling around in my wallet, I gave her my business card, and told her to log into the website.

“It’s an online community for those who are grieving,” I explained. “It’s a reliable community and I think you will find many helpful articles there. You can post on the blogs, too.”

Each of us started telling our grief stories. She said she hadn’t been able to move forward in life since her son died, and showed me a photo of her two boys. Her second son had just married. I told her about the multiple losses I suffered in 2007 and how my husband and I became guardians of our orphaned twin grandchildren.

“How are they doing?” she asked. “They both graduated from high school with honors and both received college scholarships,” I replied. “I just sent them off to their senior years at college.” Without any warning, tears filled my eyes. “And I’m going to cry,” I said. The woman started to cry, reached out, and gave me a hug. I hugged her in return.

There we stood, two grieving woman next to long-sleeved tops, two women who met each other by chance and offered each other comfort. Impulsively, I reached for a long-sleeved green top, held it up to the woman and said, “This would look nice on you.”

She looked at me thoughtfully. “Since my son died, strange things have happened,” she admitted. “I met you by chance today. You started the conversation. You’re a grief writer and green is my color.” Her voice trailed off.

I don’t know if meeting this woman was providential or not, but I do know each of us benefited from it. We shared our feelings and comforted one another. That is the journey of grief, the loss of a child, and the challenge of creating a new life without that child. Each of us has her own journey, yet I hope I will meet this woman again. I am grateful for her comfort and hope she is grateful for mine.

 

Harriet Hodgson

Harriet Hodgson has been a freelancer for 43 years, is the author of thousands of articles, and 42 books, including 10 grief resources. She is Assistant Editor of the Open to Hope website, a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists, Alliance of Independent Authors, Minnesota Coalition for Grief Education and Support, and Grief Coalition of Southeastern Minnesota. She is well acquainted with grief. In 2007 four family members died—her daughter (mother of her twin grandchildren), father-in-law, brother (and only sibling) and the twins’ father. Multiple losses shifted the focus of Hodgson’s work from general health to grief resolution and healing. She has appeared on more than 185 radio talk shows, including CBS Radio, and dozens of television stations, including CNN. In addition to writing for Open to Hope, Hodgson is a contributing writer for The Grief Toolbox website and The Caregiver Space website. A popular speaker, she has given presentations at The Compassionate Friends national conference, Bereaved Parents of the USA national conference, and Zoom grief conferences. Her work is cited in Who’s Who of American Women, World Who’s Who of Women, Contemporary Authors, and other directories. For more information about this busy grandmother, great grandmother, author, and speaker please visit www.harriethodgson.com.

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