Author Archives: Laura B Hayden (Blog Writer, Sevenponds)

“When once you have tasted flight, you will always walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward: for there you have been and there you will always be.”

- Henry Van Dyke
Posted in A Rite of Passage | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” by Ella Fitzgerald

A reminder of how beautiful the blues can be

No lyricist has better captured how fickle the purported season of rebirth, flowering trees and, oh yes, love can be, than Fran Landesman in the jazz classic “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most.” Once I was a sentimental … Continue reading

Posted in Expressive Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Funeral Clowns Making a Comeback

A funeral service that sends in the clowns may soften the sadness

As incongruous as it sounds, funeral clowns were once a long-standing tradition in Europe. During the classical period of the Greeks and Romans a funeral clown dressed up as the person who died, wore a mask of his face, and danced about, … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are You a Family Caregiver? Some States Will Pay You for Your Time

If you give up working outside of the home to care for a relative, you may qualify for a program that will pay you

According to Caring.com more than 70 million people provide unpaid care for a family member in their home or the patient’s home. This commitment takes enormous time and energy and often adds a financial burden when the family caregiver has cut back on or give up a paying job. … Continue reading

Posted in Something Special | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment



Chimeras: Our Closest Lost Loved Ones May Be Assimilated Into Our DNA

What immunology can teach us about the grieving process

Early in his remarkable essay “Chimera,” Gerald N. Callahan, a professor of immunology at Colorado State University, grapples with the loss of his wife and the odd occurrence of, what seems to him, her reappearance before his very eyes. Professor … Continue reading

Posted in Science of Us | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Our Monthly Tip: Designate a Legacy Contact for Your Facebook Account

"Till Death Do You Part" doesn't necessarily apply to your social media profile

Our Tip of the Month A funny feeling lodged in the pit of my stomach when a recent Facebook notification suggested I send a birthday greeting to a friend who had died almost a year ago. It became even more disconcerting as celebratory wishes … Continue reading

Posted in Practical Tips | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment