Sara Jewell

As I began to sauté mushrooms for my scrambled eggs, I thought of my father. He loved fried mushrooms and suddenly, I wished I was making them for him. Grief hit me like a tidal wave. My father died nearly 12 years ago. ... I don't share this to upset you - "You mean I'll always feel this way?" - but to encourage you. Yes, you will always feel this way because this is what it means to be human, to live, to have relationships with other humans. This is what it means to love and be loved, and to know someone as well as you know yourself. Death, grief and absence does not diminish love one bit. I may not be able to remember my father's voice but he still feels alive inside me. Which, I guess, is how he told me he was craving a side of sautéed mushrooms. Grief doesn't go away. Sorrow doesn't subside. Mourning doesn't end. It doesn't pass in a month, or six months, or a year -- or twelve years. It merely...transforms. It loses its sharp edges. It loosens its grip. It becomes part of us, part of our breathing and our heart beats, part of our sleeping and our waking, part of our tears and our laughter. All because of this one truth: Love stays alive. Grief is human. Grief is normal. Yes, you will always feel this way, in some way, because you are human and because it is normal. Because love stays alive. I'd rather cry into my scrambled eggs because I still miss my father, still mourn his short life, still wish he were here, than lose the memory -- and the love -- that accompanies the grief of remembering.

BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT Hallelujah!

Okay, *one* of your favourite authors! Special announcement coming soon...

Nice little note in the mail today about A Jewell of a Cookbook.

Finally had time to meet up with Chief Librarian, Denise Corey, of Cumberland Public Libraries, and hand over the $660.00 we raised with our book sale back in March. Thanks again to everyone who supported this fundraiser for the Oxford branch's new location! You made a bunch of librarians very (quietly) happy!