Widowhood Happens
 Gene K. Garrison
 (Reviewed by The Editor - Rebecca Brown)
 2002 Xlibris
  ISBN: 1401046371
Amazon's price is: $21.99 Paperback
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A RebeccasReads author in Authors & Books

Featuring the stories of the people as they face a new era in their lives, & the thoughts of professionals who counsel them.

Longtime writer, Gene K. Garrison fought her friend's suggestion that she write a book about what happens to widows. Eventually it dawned on this intrepid journalist that there were some interesting stories to be heard & much to learn, in particularly her awareness about widows & widowers was heightened toward the problems they face.

Gene Garrison has also asked experts in various mental & spiritual health fields--psychologists, lawyers, the clergy & self-help organizations for their insights into how we can adjust to our new circumstances & look at our lives ahead, with a sense of renewal & challenge. These insights are interspersed with the memories about funerals & wills, needy children & desperate times.

One widow tells of her experiences of suddenly losing her mate, the following chaotic weeks among insensitive relatives, the birth of her baby (post-partum blues is not mentioned at all!) & her search for someone to speak with who didn't either criticize her or tell her how well she was doing. Months later, in despair & depression, she finally turns to a mental health professional & finds her first steady rock to stand on & I was cheering her on at that point! Then she attends a special widows' group & meets another recent young widow with the same number of children of the same ages as hers who understands exactly what she's going through. Out of that, she starts an emergency help line, & by helping others, helps herself.

In this second edition of Widowhood Happens Gene Garrison has added the stories of two widowers because, while widowhood happens to most everywoman, it does happen to many men. These memories make for a fine balance.

What will happen when your mate dies, no matter how long you've been married? Yes, it's a dreadful thing to be thinking about, it is, however, inevitable, eventually. Why not learn about what's in store for when you will no longer be part of a couple? Why not understand, before you tumble into its depths, what the process of grief looks like? We eagerly grab books off the shelf about getting married, being pregnant & parents, starting companies, making candles, learning to heal ourselves--why not a book about what widowhood will be like? No one knows you as well as you know yourself, so why not be prepared?

Actually, Widowhood Happens is a very good book about Big Thoughts such as life & death, love & marriage, pain & pleasure, loneliness & companionship, self-pity & helping others. It makes you think & gives you some clues as to how to live your life--before & afterwards.

Certainly Widowhood Happens is a book every bride ought to be given before her wedding gown is re-made into a maternity dress, before your hair turns grey, before you really, really need it.

Highly recommended!

More from Gene K. Garrison: From Thunder to Breakfast & her children's book Javelina! Have-uh-WHAT? which is yet to become available on Amazon.com.
One Way to Publication by Gene K. Garrison, a RebeccasReads Writing Editorial
(04/13/03)

Rebecca