Author: trishfreer

Mother, writer, artist and teacher grappling with grief and loss.

Strega Nona and the Golden Ball

Strega Nona is an alter-ego of mine. She was a “strega”, an herbalist and a witch. A crone, nestled in  rich old Italian locale and culture, using her wisdom to help others through magic (which is my biggest aspiration right now). Being that Tomie dePaolo’s original story was published in 1975, it is possible that… Continue reading Strega Nona and the Golden Ball

Deben Morir

Walking again tonight, like most nights. To accrue weight watchers fitness points, partly, but I will save that for another blog. I went the other direction than the park and salt marsh this time, so I also accrued some city street juju. After my errands, I crossed a street corner which made me think of… Continue reading Deben Morir

Hating April

April and Easter have appeared again, without me feeling ready. I have not yet hung the pastel egg wreath on the door. I have not yet opened my heart to the warm air and indiscernible buds and blooms. I have been dragging my feet. Hoping my initial protest will be fruitful, healing is sometimes wrought… Continue reading Hating April

Nausea, and Honeysuckle

It is a rough day from where I write today, not feeling well. Some combination of probable strep throat (the quick test showed an exceedingly faint extra line), nausea from the penicillin tablets which resemble dinosaur eggs, and general malaise which has arrived in time for April. This month it will be three years since… Continue reading Nausea, and Honeysuckle

Susanna and Mii

Yesterday I had been driven inside by the cold and resorted to Wii Fit U, Free Run, in lieu of my walk in the park. The simulated run was icy in appearance, snow falling in seasonal nature graphics. Somehow it was dark in my running world though it was only 3 PM, but I did not mind following […]

Joy?

Brooklyn is aglow with Christmas lights. Susanna’s tree in front of our house twinkles and fades in diminutive pink dots. On our way home last night, more than one time, I caught sight of light displays flashing the word “Joy”. Joy is not the absence of pain. I am probably too old and seasoned to… Continue reading Joy?

Dolorous (A Thanksgiving Story)

Yesterday, I looked up antonyms for “grateful”. I thought I must be feeling the exact opposite. “Ungrateful” was the first entry, somehow not fitting. I went down the list and found “dolorous”. Marked by excessive grief and distress. A word which sounds like the traditional name “Dolores” from the Latin, a name meaning “sorrow” which… Continue reading Dolorous (A Thanksgiving Story)

Cornucopia

I have been looking for the quote but cannot find it. Forgive me for not being able to give credit, but this is how I remember it: My daughter is merely ahead of me, on a path, picking flowers. By the time she notices that I am missing and turns around, I will be there………… Continue reading Cornucopia