How Do We Go On
HOW DO WE GO ON It was an outdoor concert for Peace and Love where hundreds of young people gathered. Suddenly, there was gunfire. People were screaming and running. Terrorists were chasing them down as their […]
Unexpected Acts of Kindness
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” This quote is getting thousands of “Likes” on Facebook, but are acts of kindness what we practice in our everyday lives? In March of 2002, my husband Rex and I moved to a small fixer upper in Palos Verdes. Our next-door neighbor is a single […]
Michael B
It was August of 2020, the sixth month of the pandemic. I was kept away from my grandchildren and social distanced from my kids. Every activity that gave my life meaning had been taken away. I was lonely. It was 4 years since my husband died, and I no longer had the distractions to keep […]
My Step-Mother’s Funeral
I ride to the cemetery with my stepsister’s daughter, a red-headed beauty who always makes me feel included. My stepbrother’s daughter is sitting in the back with her husband, and they are all sharing memories. Their beloved grandmother passed away 2 days ago, and although though she was 90 years old, it was sudden […]
Enchanted Collaboration
As a director of theatre, I always appreciated the art of collaboration. Besides working with actors, I worked hard to bring together set, lighting and costume designers. When creative artists are open and feed off each other’s ideas, we do our best work. But at Cal State Dominguez Hills, I actually experienced Enchanted Collaboration. https://sydellweiner.com/news […]
Vacationing as a Widow
Vacationing as a widow changes your perspective. Do relationships look the same on land and at sea? I’m on a cruise with my sister and brother-in-law, and as much as I love them, it’s my first vacation without my husband. My sweet Rex died a year and a half ago and I am still trying […]
Is It OCD Or Coping With Life?
I move the books on my wall unit, so they’re grouped by height. Am I being OCD, or is this just how I cope? Standing back to admire my work, I think, “Hmmm…I need a vase or a sculpture next to the books on the second shelf.” I try a red vase…too bright. Then I […]
Does the Soul Survive?
I’ve always struggled with the concept of life after death. Does our soul live on in the minds and hearts of those we’ve touched? Can it exist separately on another dimension? If the soul survives, is it possible to actually communicate with a lost loved one? Can they come to us in times of need […]