A friend sent me a piece from last Sunday's New York Times written by Ann Hood. I read Hood's memoir "Comfort" this past June. Inhaled it, actually, while sitting on a bench in Central Park, tears streaming down my cheeks. If you haven't read it, and have experienced the loss of a child, I highly recommend it.
She ends her NYT piece with the below words, which simply took my breath away.
"What I do know is this: there is no safe route through parenthood, or through life. When we offer our heart to others, we do not know what will happen to it. It may break. It may grow. It may take us places we never imagined. But isn’t that the risk of love? To be willing to stand on the stern on a beautiful summer day and, not knowing the outcome, to leap?"
14 comments:
Paige - thanks for sharing those very powerful and poignant words. Hope you're having a great weekend.
I read "Comfort" after Lucy died. The prologue or introduction to that book was one of those moments, where I wish I had a fax machine hooked up to every person I know. I just wanted everyone to read it.
That was another powerful piece by her. My heart sunk. Her book made me so afraid, as much as I identified with her feelings, I just couldn't not feel utterly fearful of what could happen to our family. Thank you for sharing this. XO
Utterly beautiful, thank you for sharing this piece Paige. I haven't read Comfort, I think I wasn't sure I could handle it, but now I think I will have to.
that is a poignant and beautiful quote. so true and so frightening.
i read 'comfort' in one sitting and then went out to get 'the knitting circle' the novel she had previously written also based on her daughter's death.
i email ann hood to tell her how much her books meant to me as a recent babylost mama. i just felt like i knew her so intimately and resonated with so much of her grief. she sent me back a brief email in response.
thanks for sharing this.
xo
xxxxx
Oh, I read this last week in the NYT and it completely undid me. She gets it all exactly right, doesn't she?
I hadn't read this. Thank you for sharing it, Paige. (((Hugs)))
thank you paige for sharing that article. it has me in tears right now. sounds like i need to go pick up her other books xo
Paige-What a beautiful article. It was so touching to read her words and the final quote is so true. As difficult as it is to read about loss, it is comforting to know that those of us who have been through it are not alone.
I'm always with you!
Karen
Thank you for sharing the article, a great read indeed. I just added her book to my wishlist!
hi, i'm a regular reader or carly's blog and she mentioned you and ur blog - so here i am!
all that time in hospital, wow, i bet youre glad to be free :)
enjoy your time at home, rest up,
ill be thinking of you and praying for the safe arrival of your little bundle :)
~amy
Ohhhh - I love it. Thank you for sharing, Paige. I hope you are keeping well.
What an incredibly beautiful quote. I am going to have to read the article now! BTW, LOVE seeing the countdown go to "79" today. (-:
A friend sent me this too. The piece gave me chills...
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