Roger Rosenblatt: "Making Toast"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-02-17/roger-rosenblatt-making-toast
Author Roger Rosenblatt with his grandchild
Ginny Rosenblatt
Life after loss - Essayist and PBS NewsHour commentator Roger Rosenblatt recounts the struggle to help his son-in-law and three young grandchildren cope with the sudden death of his thirty-eight year old daughter
Guests
Roger Rosenblatt
author, journalist and commentator.
Comments
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I can relate to the analogy of spinning plates on sticks. It's a three-ring circus when you're solo parenting, especially while going through grief. My husband died when my kids were 15, 14 and 12. I drove a truck for a variety of reasons afterwards... was I running from the pain? I know I was trying to support my family. Was I still looking for "him" in vain?
I often described my life during those times, as being a circus clown spinning plates.
And the discussion going on to the presence of the spirit was another thing I could relate to. In one instance I "heard" a voice telling me what to do. I argued with the voice, and then did what was commanded - which led me to discover a mechanical malfunction on my vehicle. I was shocked.
In the interview with Diane Rehm, Roger Rosenblatt commented that although he is a non-believer in life after death he recounted the tapping on his shoulder shortly after Amy’s death which I know he believes (or wishes to believe) was from his daughter.
I am an atheist, a scientist, and did not-believe in any spiritual phenomenon…until my son died suddenly at age 10.
My now deceased son, Mathew, adored his younger brother who was 7 years his junior. Mathew indulged his brother and let him play with all of his toys except for his prized hand held video game. Of course it was Andy’s greatest desire to get his hands on that game.
When Mathew died, Andy immediately co-opted the video game. About 1 week later Andy reported that he could not find the game, but heard its constant beeping. So his father and I went looking for the source of the beep. We were unsuccessful. The beeping stopped at bedtime. The next night the beeping started again . Andy’s dad and I looked everywhere in the room. We even pulled the dresser and bed away from the wall in an attempt to find the still hidden, but clearly audible, video game. Several days later Andy came downstairs thanking us for finding his game. But we had not found the game which Andy said was sitting atop his bed when he came home from day care.
Only 3 of us occupied that single family house. We had no other company; no one who cleaned the house while we were at work and yet the game miraculously appeared. To 3 year old Andy the explanation was obvious..Mathew was done playing with the toy and was now giving it to him.
I believe that experience was a wonderful gift Mathew gave to us. I have no doubt Amy did the same for Roger.
that one hour show belongs in the radio hall of fame, if there is such a place. i think there is. right as you walk into the building.
listened yesterday as a podcast. thankyou