Elizabeth "Betsey" Reed

"We have witnessed many strange events happen there along with scientific data from our equipment indicating something paranormal was taking place! " --Crawford County Ghosthunters

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we recall famous widow Elizabeth "Betsey" Reed. Betsey joy-ned our happy club willingly.

Betsey is famous widow and famous first woman put to death for murdering her husband. Tried and convicted and put to death for lacing Mr. Reed's tea with arsenic.

Betsey was hanged May 23, 1845.

"It is said that she rode to her execution site right beside her casket singing. Elizabeth some how started a fire in her cell that burned down the Palestine jail where she was being held at with absolutely nothing in the cell to start a fire with! "

Mourning Joy:

Q: What kind of car does Luke Skywalker drive?

A: A Toy-Yoda

Mourning Quote:

"Find balance and overcome burnout at any age." --Nora Isaacs

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Write something.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember, we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Mourning Joy

"Don't forget to tell someone you love them today." --Sign on a flower shop

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to All the World Today!

I'll make this brief. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm in a hurry. 20 miles north from where the World Trade Center used to be the sun is bright as a new born daffodil and the joy of getting up, getting dressed, getting out beckons.

In as few words as possible, I got errands to run, cat to feed, dog to walk, and a few other necessary important things to do.

But I'm doing like the sign on the flower shop says to do, taking time to tell you, I Love You!

There. I said it.

Now it's your turn.

Find someone you care about, and tell them those 3 little words.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember, we're not alone.

:)L

For Widows Only: Moving On - 2 Tips To Get You Started

By Linda Della Donna


As Fannie Lou Hamer says, "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."

The same can be said for moaning, mourning, crying, and grieving.

After awhile being His widow becomes a burden. Only you can decide when that time is. And that's when it's time to throw up the sash to what I call your "window of illumination," the brief earth-shattering moments when you feel relieved of your grief and are able to cook clean and swim, and let the sunshine in!

Here are 2 Tips to get you started:

Permission

Raise your right hand and repeat after me: I give myself permission to live, laugh, love, smile, grin, snicker, and do all, or any, of the things I choose to do, today, tomorrow, always, for the rest of my life.

Don't stop here. Keep reading.

Forgiveness

Admit it. You've made mistakes since His death.

So what?

So you forgot to write the check to the mortgage company last month. Or was it the month before? Did the bank sic the mortgage police on you?

So you didn't remember to change the litter in the cat box. Did Mr. Kitty join cats anonymous and write a letter of complaint?

If the answers to the above 2 questions was an emphatic No; if the roof over your head is still standing, if you didn't pass out from Mr. Kitty's stinky fumes, then you've learned life's valuable lesson,“ After the death of a spouse, life goes on Without Him. And maybe it's time to move on with the rest of your life." Only you can be the judge of that.

I know it's hard losing a spouse. What seems like an eternity of dark days, followed by a sea of lonely nights, sucks. But if you follow my 2 tips outlined above, sure as cinnamon melts in warm butter, you'll find your window of illumination opening wide, wider, widest for long, longer, longest periods of time, lighting your way to mend and heal your shattered heart. Before you know it, you will be one baby step closer to your new perfect self. The person you are meant to be.

Jenny Tomchek (Mrs. Edward Tomchek)

"The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years."

-- James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy; 23 February 1945 (the flag-raising on Iwo Jima had been immortalized in a photograph by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal)

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we welcome famous widow Jenny Tomchek wife of famous World War II Iwo Jima Marine Corps veteran Edward Tomchek, aka, Walter Tomchek, to our joy-ous club.

That's right Widows, the club nobody *in their right mind* wants to joy-n.

Corporal Tomchek "seldom spoke about his World War II experiences," but he served in the 4th Division Fox Company and was a machine gun crewman, an automatic rifleman and a sharpshooter.

"He was one of the few servicemen who survived the first wave of the assault on Iowa Jima and received a Purple Heart and several other medals."

Edward Tomchek was 84 years old. He died March 13, 2007.

Said his daughter Terry Berlingo, "He was a proud Marine."

Jenny has her daughter and one son and several grandchildren to see her through her mourning joy. We wish her well.

Mourning Quote:

"It is the freedom, it is the challenge, both physical and mental, and the ability to go into places that no human has ever been." --David Jones

Mourning Joy:

Q: Why did the boy blush?

A: He saw the salad dressing.

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen. Write something. Go ahead. I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember, we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Vickie Walker (Mrs. Jeffrey Walker)

"We can feel no evil, no ill, no harm against this man (Talovic)"

--Vickie Walker

Good Mourning Widows.

Joy to you and me.

Today we welcome famous Vickie Walker widow of famous assassinated husband Jeffrey Walker to our joy-ous club.

It was Valentine's Day and Jeffrey Walker was shopping for presents for his wife and family in a Utah shopping mall when his life was snuffed out by a crazed man with a shotgun.

Jeffrey was with his teenaged son, AJ, who was also shot, once in the head and ankle.

Jeffrey was killed instantly. He was 52 years old. His son landed in the hospital.

Vickie is left with 4 children to see her through her mourning joy. We wish her well.

Mourning Quote:

"A man with a great heart." --Mark McDougal, neighbor of Jeffrey Walker

Mourning Joke:

Q: When is a car not a car?

A: When it turns into a garage.

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen. Write something. Go ahead. I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Happy Spring

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

-- Margaret Atwood

Sun's up!

Like two round buttons, my small dog Izzy and his little cat Tux snuggle and snooze at my feet as I fingerhug a keyboard 20 miles north from where the World Trade Center used to be and tap out a greeting to you this chilly spring morning.

Whew!

Long sentence.

Time to take a breath.

With the advent of spring comes the delight of memories, past and present. A true sign of new beginnings, especially for us widows. So from me to you, here's to new memories. And what they can bring.

Think outing. Perhaps to a botannical garden, the zoo, a central park. Think dig a garden, walk a dog, sit on a wooden bench with pen and spiral notebook.

Find someplace outdoorsy. Think woodsy, scented pine, blossoming oak or elm; where squirrels scurry for nuts and woodpeckers pound their faces loudly into the bark of a tree.

Make your new memory Widows.

Then fingerhug your pen. Write it.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day. And remember, we're not alone.

Now I'm off to dirty my hands. After I walk Izzy.

:)L

*DEILU*

Take a Tip From Me

Today is Wednesday, March 28, 2007.

Izzy snores loudly, I see the tip of his snoot peek out from under a corner of the covers *Yes, I type in bed* as I tap the keyboard of the laptop. Today is a brand new sunshiny day.

Hooray for spring!

Last night I did the Meetup thing. Ever do the Meetup thing?

Anyway, last night I ventured out from the security of my own private space, and met up with a handful of people at a local restaurant. We sat around, ate a meal, and afterwards played a game--Something like pictionary, think teams of 6, pick a card, draw the image on an eraseable white board, get your team to guess what it is you read on the card.

My team lost. Oh well. But we had great fun losing. It was 11 o'clock by the time the game ended and I hated to leave.

I learned a new game, a new restaurant, and I made quite a few new friends. Most important, it got me out among the living.

I know it isn't easy living without Him. Nothing I can say will change that. But if you're thinking where do I go? How do I meet people? I recommend http://www.meetup.com

Like Mom always said when I wouldn't eat my stringbeans, "Try it. You'll like it."

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember we're not alone.

:)L

Catherine Filene Shouse (Mrs. Jouette Shouse)

"It is better to light a candle and then curse the darkness."

--ekw

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we welcome famous philantropist and widow Catherine Filene Shouse wife of famous former Congressman from Kansas Jouette Shouse to our joy-ous club.

Catherine and Jouette were married in 1931.

Jouette died in 1968.

Catherine was the first woman to receive a M.Ed. degree from Harvard University; the first woman appointed Chairman of Federal Women's Prison for the Rehabilitation and Education of Women. Her appointment was by Calvin Coolidge.

After the death of her husband, Catherine continued her philantropic activities until her death on December 14, 1994, establishing the Wolf Foundation, a world renowned center for the arts.

Mourning Joy:

Q: What do you call pubs on Mars?

A: Mars Bars!

Mourning Quote:

"The general rule is that the people who enjoy life also enjoy marriage." --Phyliss Battelle

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Write something.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember, we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Julia Child (Mrs. Paul Child)

"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it."

--Julia Child

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we welcome famous widow Julia Child widow of Paul to our joy-ous club. That's right Widows, the club that nobody wants to joy-n.

Julia Child became a widow in 1994.

"Julia was a graduate of Smith College and attended classes at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. This famous American cook, author, and television personality introduced French cuisine and cooking techniques to America through her cookbooks and television programs."

Julia died in her sleep on August 13, 2004. Her last meal was French onion soup.

Mourning Joy:

Q: What do you do when your chair breaks?

A: Call a Chairman.

Mourning Quote:

"Higher death rate for men as well as a higher likelihod of remarriage for men contribute to the higher proportion of unmarried women in the older age groups." --Widow Fact

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen. Write something. Go ahead. I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows and remember we're not alone.

:)L

*Deilu!*

Mario Arbore, A Man And His Dreams

by Linda Della Donna

It's Saturday, March 24, 2007 and this writer is off to the Daly School in Red Hook, Brooklyn, for the Third Annual Lego Event.

Meet Mario Arbore, professional architect. A Man with a dream, and a passion to give.

You may remember Mario Arbore from Sandcastles in the Sun .

Back in the summer of 2006, we learned Arbore's dream was to construct buildings out of sand -- with 150 kids!

As Arbore tells it, "I didn't know 150 kids, and I wasn't sure how to find them."

Arbore made a phone call offering his talent and relaying his dream to build sandcastles in the sun with 150 kids to Good Shepherd. The woman who answered the phone gave little hope saying it was late in the summer and the kids already had plans.

Arbore hung up. But not for long.

Refusing to take no for an answer, Arbore called back. Little did he know his first phone call prompted the woman to research a date and time. To Arbore's surprise and Good Shepherd's delight a cancellation in the kids' activities calendar was discovered, freeing up needed busses and a date.

With the aid of Good Shepherds and Robin Hood, the non-profit organizations commited to working with "at-risk" neighborhood kids, Arbore's dream became reality and Sandcastles in the Sun was born giving those in the industry the opportunity to give the wonders and joys of design and construction to 150 kids.

As the story goes, the rest is history. Now each summer Arbore, his merry volunteers, and his 150 kids make the trek to Coney Island to dig and build in the sand under a hot sun.

Today Mario Arbore is dreaming, again!

Only this time Arbore's dream is designing, planning, and building a model mini-city from simple materials -- Think multi-colored plastic, thumb-sized blocks, sacks of beans, glitter sticks, and packaged pipe cleaners -- With 150 kids.

Dressed in jeans and white tee shirt, Arbore scurries about, surrounded by dozens of kids crawling on their bellies picking at mounds of Legos the colors of cherry, lime, and lemon, meeting, greeting, and directing volunteers and kids. His eyes sparkle with the sound of each snapping block. And today, Arbore's eyes sparkle a lot.

When questioned about this dream, his success at his Third Annual Legos Event, and all these kids, Arbore smiles broadly.

Arbore lovingly refers to all 150 kids as "great" kids. Then adds quickly, "I just want them to have fun. Today is a fun day."

The start of a Fun day. And, the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Mini-City

When asked to describe his Lego Event in one word, Arbore paused, studied the parade of mini-structures lined up before him and said, "phenomenal ."

"It's phenomenal to see everyone come together like this and work so hard. I love these kids. I think they're great."

Mario Arbore and volunteers in Mini-City

To learn more about Mario Arbore, Good Shepherds, and Robin Hood non-profit organizations and the good work they do, visit http://www.arboredesign.com/ http://www.goodshepherds.org/ and http://www.robinhood.org/.

Linda Della Donna is a freelance writer who makes her home 20 miles north from where the World Trade Center used to be. You can learn more about Della Donna by visiting her website http://www.littleredmailbox.com/ or reading her blog http://www.griefcase.blogspot.com/. Della Donna does profiles, interviews and is available for writing assignments.

The above article is posted at http://www.lieurancegroup.blogspot.com as well.

Mourning Joy

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

I like that I am a writer. Being a writer takes me places other people get to read about. On Saturday, March 24, 2007, I got to visit the Third Annual Lego Event held in Red Hook, Brooklyn. In addition to volunteering to build buildings with "phenomenal" kids, I got to snap pictures and write about it.

Here for your reading pleasure and my mourning joy are a few snapshots of my great day and the great fun had by all.

Be sure to read my article, Mario Arbore, A Man And His Dreams

Go ahead. Give a click!





The young man in the center is my son, George and his wife, Colleen.

That's me with George and again that's me playing on the floor.

For Widows Only: I've Got a Secret to Help You Process Your Grief

It happens fast. You're a happily married couple, a regular George Burns and Gracie Allen, merrily rolling along like two chips in a cookie. You think life as you know it will never end.

Blotto!

In an instant you find yourself standing over a hole in the ground staring at a rose-covered casket, and inside that sealed box is your life's partner, your mentor, your husband, the best friend you ever had. Your feelings of loss and loneliness defy description. You wish to wake up and find it all a bad dream. But you can't, because it's not.

Tag. You're a widow. Now!

Welcome to my world. Please know you're not crazy. Your life is just a horse of a different color now. Think The Wizard of Oz. Think I'll be okay. And you will. I promise. Because I've got a secret to guide you as you process your grief.

Here it is:

Repeat after me, "We're not alone."

Sound simple? It is. And it will help get you through one horrible ugly miserable lonely desperate day one moment at a time.

Because it's important to look to the widows who have gone before us, and to the widows who exist around us, for inspiration and guidance.

Do not think misery likes company; think strength in numbers, instead.

Then call a meeting, an imaginary bereavement meeting, of celebrity women who have been left behind when their husbands died.

Imagine Jackie Kennedy, Mary Baker Eddy, Dolly Madison, Eleanor Roosevelt, Joan Didion, and any other famous widow whose name comes to mind, sitting around your kitchen table, sharing their stories. With you! Imagine what memories they'd conjure up?

Then remind yourself - if they can deal with this pain, so can other, not-so-famous widows, like us.

I know it's painful to bury your man. On life's long list of ugly, losing a beloved husband rockets to the top. Nothing anyone can do or say, including this writer, can change that. But, thinking, we, not I, is the secret. And if you follow my secret advice outlined above, before you know it, your upside smile will have turned right side up again.

And who knows, after listening to Jackie, Mary, Dolly, Eleanor, and Joan, spout their sorrows, you just may find yourself on the Yellow Brick Road in search of Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Mr. Lion.

Can you imagine what stories they could tell?

Beatrice "Bess" Houdini (Mrs. Harry Houdini)

"Ten years is long enough to wait for any man."

--Beatrice Houdini

Good Mourning Widows.

Joy to you and me.

Today we welcome and honor to our joy-ous club famous widow Beatrice "Bess" Houdini wife of famous magician escapologist Harry Houdini.

Harry died in 1926. He was 52 years old.

"Fearing spiritualists would exploit his legacy by pretending to contact him after his death, Houdini left his wife a secret code that he would use to contact her from the after-life."

He never did.

Beatrice died in 1943. She was 67 years old.

Mourning Joy:

Q: Why did the scientist install a knocker on his door?

A: He wanted to win the No-bell prize!

Mourning Quote:

"There is a power greater than myself who loves me exactly as I am." --Unknown

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen. Write something. Go ahead. I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows and remember we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Cathy Carilli (Mrs. Tom Sinton III)

"He had a great laugh and he never held it back."

--Cathy Carilli

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we honor and welcome famous 9/11 widow Cathy Carilli widow of Thomas Sinton III senior vice president of Cantor Fitzgerald killed in the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 to our joy-ous club, the club that nobody wants to joy-n.

Since the death of her husband, Cathy founded "The Tower of Hope" the foundation "to help train dogs to assist veterans who have lost limbs in combat."

Mourning Joy:

Q: What do you get if Batman and Robin get smashed by a steam roller?

A: Flatman and Ribbon.

Mourning Quote:

"The dog is sometimes smarter than the owner." --Anonymous

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Write something.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows and remember we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Alison Cronin (Mrs. James Cronin)

"I've promised Jim that I'll continue his legacy. Jim was an inspiration to everyone who knew him; he was so passionate in everything he did." --Alison Cronin

Good Mourning Widows.

Joy to you and me.

Today we welcome famous widow Alison Cronin wife of famous world-renowned primate expert honored by British royalty James Cronin to our joy-ous club. That's right. The club that nobody wants to become a member of. The club that costs one husband to joy-n.

Alison and James were residents of Great Britain for more than two decades, "where they operated the internationally renowned ape rescue center, Monkey World.

Monkey World "works with governments around the world to halt the illegal smuggling of apes out of Africa and Asia."

James died March 17, 2007. He was 55 years young.

Alison is left with their daughter, Eleanor, to see her through her mourning joy.

We wish her well.

Mourning Joy:

Q: How much do pirates pay for their earrings?

A: A Buccaneer!

Mourning Quote:

"Slow and steady wins the race." --Anonymous

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Open that joy-nal.

Is there something in today's entry that creates a writing spark for you? Why not write it.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Mourning Joy

plink-plink - plink-plink - plink-plink

*That's the sound of my knuckle tapping the screen*

Anybody out there?

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

I have a request.

I'd like to know if you en-joy Griefcase. Do you read it? Do you like it? If so, why? If not, why not? Is there something you'd like to see, something you'd like not to see? Do you have a story, something related to being a widow, perhaps a joy-nal entry. Is it time for me to pack it in?

Let me know. Drop me a line.

Here's your chance to write something. Go ahead. I dare you.

Send your words to littleredmailbox@aol.com

Clare Booth Luce (Mrs. Henry R. Luce)

"Love is a verb." --Clare Booth Luce

Good Mourning Widows.

Joy to you and me.

Today we welcome famous playwright, journalist, US Ambassador to Italy, and first woman elected to Congress from Connecticut widow of famous Time Inc. Co. founder and Editor-in-Chief, Henry R. Luce to our joy-ous club.

Clare Booth Luce "recognized that many women face obstacles in their chosen professions" and sought "to encourage women to enter, study, graduate, and teach."

Clare and Henry married in 1935.

Henry died in 1967. He was age 69.

Clare was born in 1903 and died in 1987.

Mourning Joy:

Q: What do you call a parachute jumper holding a book?

A: A down-to-earth story.

Mourning Quote:

"I've been through Hell already. What's a little trip to the viewing platform?" --Unknown

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen. Write something. Go ahead. I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows.

And remember, we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Enid Bagnold (Mrs. Sir Roderick Jones)

"The pleasure of one's effect on other people still exists in age--what's called making a hit. But the hit is much rarer and made of different stuff." --Enid Bagnold

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we honor and welcome famous author wife of famous head of Reuters news agency Sir Roderick Jones to our joy-ous club, the club that nobody *in their right mind* wants to joy-n. Ever.

Enid Bagnold is author of great literary works, "National Velvet," and more.

This gutsy lady once penned a pamphlet criticizing a military hospital she worked in as a nurse. After they fired her, she went on to volunteer her services driving a bus in France.

Sir Roderick Jones died in 1969.

After his death, Enid suffered from ill health, sold her London home, and went on to live out the remainder of her life in Rottingdean.

Enid Bagnold died in 1981.

Mourning Joy:

Q: What is green and purple and wants revenge?

A: The grapes of wrath.

Mourning Poem:

Lonesome Robin

by Bob Coltman

Rise up on your bed of straw

See if you can bend back your bow one last time.

You're sick with your wounds and you think you don't care,

But you know it will weigh on your mind

And wherever it will weigh on your mind

And wherever your arrow falls to the ground

We'll lay lonesome Robin down one last time.

No more Robin, no more

Your outlaw days are over.

Funny how hot is the sun

now that you can't run away to the shade...

When you were a little boy

You used to go to bed early while the sun still shone

It was just like sleep was the end of the world

And tomorrow would never come

Now, lonesome Robin, can't you just close your eyes

And pretend that the sun will still rise one last time.

Hold onto whatever is closest to you--

That's all lonesome Robin can do one last time.

No more, Robin, no more.

Your outlaw days are over.

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Write something.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have an abundantly joy-filled day Widows. And remember we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Mourning Joy - Live In The Moment

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Each morning I receive a newsletter in my email. The Morning Nudge, by Suzanne Lieurance. Suzanne Lieurance writes for writers, motivating them to fingerhug their pen and a few other things.

Yesterday's The Morning Nudge was special. Very special. And is something that applies to everyone. Especially us widows. For that reason, just for today, I share part of Suzanne Lieurance's The Morning Nudge.

En-joy.

If you happen to contact Suzanne Lieurance, please tell her, Linda Della Donna says, Hello. And oh, yes, let Suzanne know, we're not alone.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember...well, you know.

:)L

Live in the Moment

by Suzanne Lieurance

(Lovingly taken from Monday's The Morning Nudge)

Most of us tend to live (at least a little bit) in the past or future. We worry about what's ahead. We regret, or glorify, the events of our past. Truly living in the moment takes work. It takes conscious effort.

There's a commercial on television these days that says "plan for the future, but live for the present. "

That's good advice.

So just for today, try living in the present, and see what a difference it makes.

Let go of any worries about the future.

Release all thoughts about the past.

Whatever you do today, be conscious and mindful of the moment. DECIDE to enjoy everything that comes your way today.

Remember, no matter who you are with today, or wherever you may be, you won't be in this particular place, with these particular people forever. Remind yourself of that today and be thankful for each moment. Days are simply made up of many, many moments. Once you start to enjoy each and every moment, eventually you'll find yourself enjoying each and every day. Try it.

Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: suzannelieurance@hotmail.com
web: http://www.workingwriterscoach.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses (Mrs. Thomas Solomon Moses)

"A primitive artist is an amateur whose work sells." --"Grandma" Moses"

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we honor and we welcome into our joy-ous club the club that nobody *in their right mind* wants to joy-n famous artist wife of famous farmer Thomas Solomon Moses.

Thomas Solomon Moses died in 1927, leaving Anna Mary his money and his farm. She was 67 years old.

Together they had 10 children. Five died at birth. Anna Mary outlived most of her other children.

At 70-something, Anna Mary began painting.

In 1949, then US President, Harry Truman, presented her with the Women's National Press Club Award for outstanding accomplishment in art.

In 1952, Anna Mary published her autobiography, "Grandma Moses. My Life Story."

The inscription on "Grandma Moses's" tombstone reads, "Her primitive paintings captured the spirit and preserved the scene of a vanishing countryside."

Anna Mary once said, "If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens." Adding, "Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be."

The quote I like best regarding Anna Mary's work and found at www.answers.com is this one:

"In her paintings, there is no despair, unhappiness, or aging, yet this unrealistic view of existence is presented with remarkable conviction."

Which means, in my words, "eye candy." I could look at her work for hours.

"Grandma Moses" died in 1961. She was 101 years old.

Mourning Joy:

Q: How many actors does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: 9 -- 1 to get on the ladder and screw the dang thing into the socket, and 8 to stand around and say, I can do that.

Mourning Quote:

"You've got to take chances in life." --Nelson Minter (1957-1993)

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Write something.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Bella Savitsky Abzug (Mrs. Martin Abzug)

"Our informal understanding of respect for each other's work has endured throughout our marriage." --Bella Abzug

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we honor and we welcome famous humanitarian, famous lawyer, famous fighter for human rights famous widow Bella Savitsky Abzug wife of famous husband Martin Abzug to our famous joy-ous club.

That's right Widows, the club that nobody *in their right mind* wants to become a member of.

In case you don't remember, Bella was the outspoken advocate for women's rights.

This robust woman best remembered for her bright hats became an attorney when few women entered the legal profession.

"She fought for and worked for 25 years specializing in labor and tenants' rights, and civil rights and liberties cases."

"In addition, to and while raising 2 daughters, Bella was one of few lawyers willing to fight against the House Un-American Activities Committee during the McCarthy era."

Her husband, the love of her life, Martin, died in 1986.

"After Martin's death, Bella went on to co-found the Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), an international activist and advocacy network. As WEDO president, Abzug became an influential leader at the United Nations and at UN world conferences, working to empower women around the globe."

"Abzug gave her final public speech before the UN in March of 1998 and died soon after, at the age of 77. Her death is still being mourned in this country and around the world."

Mourning Joy:

Q: How do you make a blonde laugh on Saturday?

A: Tell her a joke on Wednesday.

Mourning Quote:

"Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to." --Michael J. Wiggins, age 26, killed in Iraq January 23, 2007

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Write something.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember, we're not alone.

:)L
*DEILU*

Judy Belushi Pisano (Mrs. John Belushi)

"I may be gone, but rock n roll lives on."

*inscription on John Belushi's tombstone*

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we honor and welcome famous widow Judy Belushi wife of famous comedian actor John Belushi to our joy-ous club.

John Belushi died March 5, 1982.

Judy later remarried. She is now Judy Belushi Pisano.

After John's death, Judy co-wrote with Tanner Colby, "Belushi" a collection of first-person interviews and photographs. It was published in 2005.

Mourning Joy:

Q: Where does a 500 lb gorilla sit?

A: Any place he wants.

Mourning Quote:

"We don't stop playing becasue we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." --George Bernard Shaw

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Write something.

Go ahead. I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows.

And remember, we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

Bessie Baine Smith (Mrs. Honus Wagner)

"For God's sake! What is that?"

--Honus Wagner *on seeing Truman Capote for the first time*

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we welcome famous widow Bessie Baine Smith wife of famous US baseball player Honus Wagner to our joy-ous club.

Bessie and Honus married in 1916.

Honus died in 1971 leaving Bessie with 3 kids.

Mourning Joy:

Q: What did one potato chip say to the other?

A: Shall we go for a dip?

Mourning Quote:

"You'll never find another love like mine."

--Lou Rawls

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Write something.

Go ahead. I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember, we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*

The "V" Word

Good Mourning Widows,

Joy to you and me!

Remember Jimmy Durante?

Remember, "Everybody wants to get into 'da act!"

Well, why should I be any different?

Vagina!

There, I said it.

There's a great big ruckus going on 20 miles north from where the World Trade Center used to be.

And it's all because of the vagina word.

In case you haven't heard, or seen CNN, Oprah, Good Mourning, America! or read The Journal News, what's going on is 3 John Jay High School students said the v word at an open mic assembly after they promised school officials they wouldn't use the v word.

So they lied.

Who cares?

Right?

What matters, it seems, is in the name of free speech, these rebels have created a buzz and are enjoying their 15 minutes of fame and then some.

In their own fashion, they have created college opportunities, given the author of "The Vagina Monologues" a million bucks worth of free advertising, and they have caused an entire school district to buckle under and issue a giant mea culpa.

Imagine.

All because of the vagina word. All because 3 students broke a promise.

And this is a score for women?

I scrunch my hat.

Ha-cha-cha-cha!

Have a joy-filled day widows. And remember, we're not alone!

:)L

Martha Promise (Mrs. Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter)

"The blues is like this. You lay down some night and you turn from one side of the bed to the other: all night long. It's not too cold in that bed, and it ain't too hot. But what's the matter? The blues has got you." --Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter

Good Mourning Widows. Joy to you and me.

Today we honor and welcome famous widow Martha Promise wife of famous "world's greatest cotton picker" US singer/songwriter Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter to our joy-ous club.

Huddie's trademark song, "Goodnight Irene" became a hit one year after his death in 1949, selling more than 2 million copies.

Martha and Huddie married in 1935.

Mourning Joy:

Q: Where do animals go when they lose their tales?

A: To a retail store.

Mourning Quote:

"Sitting in a sacred place means you must sit alone." --Marilyn "Omni Funke" Torres

After we remember Him, fingerhug your pen.

Write something.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day Widows. And remember, we're not alone.

:)L

*DEILU*