If you think you are going insane, THAT’S NORMAL

If all you can do is cry, THAT’S NORMAL

If you have trouble with the most minor decisions, THAT’S NORMAL

If you can’t taste your food or have any semblance of an appetite, THAT’S NORMAL

If you have feelings of rage, denial, and depression, THAT’S NORMAL

If you find yourself enjoying a funny moment and immediately feeling guilty, THAT’S NORMAL

If your friends dwindle away and you feel like you have the plague, THAT’S NORMAL

If your blood boils and the hair in your nose curls when someone tells you, “It was God’s will”, THAT’S NORMAL

If you can’t talk about, but can smash dishes, shred old phone books or kick the garbage can (preferably empty) down the lane, THAT’S NORMAL

If you can share your story, your feelings with an understanding listener — another bereaved parents, THAT’S A BEGINNING

If you can get a glimmer of your child’s life rather than his/her death, THAT’S WONDERFUL

If you can remember your child with a smile, THAT’S HEALING

If you find that mirrors have become windows and you are able to reach out to other bereaved parents, THAT’S GROWING.

We were on Long Island the first week in July and visited the memorial and left flowers. The memorial shrubs and flowers continue to grow and they were blooming beautifully. The following is a poem/story that I first read in “Bereaved Parents USA” Vol. 23, Number 2, March/April 2002. It helped us, perhaps it will help others.

Submitted by Helen & Larry Siebert who lost their 2 daughters aboard TWA 800