Each day, by the brevity of its life, our pet tells us, I shall soon be dead. In the deepest sense, these familiar creatures are part of the hurt of living. Because dogs inflict the suffering of loss upon us, the French sometimes call them “beasts of sorrow,”bêtes de chagrin.
After Barbara’s service, Presidio Log Cabin, San Francisco, CA.* I’ve read What Color Is Your Parachute and done Meyers-Briggs tests that suggest what paths my work life might follow. The job title I never saw listed for myself, but should have, was Witness Bearer. No doubt many people have borne
Photo of Tillie Olsen: Rob Edwards Tillie Olsen’s memorial on Saturday was profoundly moving. What a life; what a legacy. To do any of it justice is far far beyond my humble capacities. So I won’t, except to say that the event was a fitting reflection of her fierce passion