After Cindy died I had wondered if she left unfinished business behind because her death had been sudden (at least to family members, but perhaps not to Cindy if she had committed suicide with assistance) and mysterious. Nine months after her death (before the inquest, and before I went to Africa) I had an experience […]

Halloween is almost upon us and I’m hearing a lot of chatter about ghosts…more specifically, about ghosts making connections with loved ones. If the ghost of a dearly departed could connect to you, how do you think they would do it? –By affecting one or more of your senses (vision, smell, touch, hearing) I’ve been […]

Should you go first and I remain to walk the road alone, I’ll live in memories garden dear, with happy days we’ve known. In spring I’ll wait for roses red, when faded, the lilacs blue. In early fall when brown leaves fall, I’ll catch a glimpse of you. Should you go first and I remain, […]

Over the past week she could have sworn she’d been hearing noises—footsteps, whisperings, thumps, tapping, slamming doors, and windows opening and closing. And along with those sounds there were smells…sometimes the smell of gardenias or aftershave, sometimes of burned wood. And now, when the clock suddenly stopped for no apparent reason (she checked and the […]

A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and tapped him on the shoulder.  The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window. For a few moments everything was silent in the […]

At the ages of 7 and 9 my children touched their deceased great-grandfather. Perhaps you are wondering if all children should touch a deceased loved one. Children should NEVER be forced to view OR touch the body—they need to be given a choice that will be respected. If they are going to view the body, […]

Children should not be forced to go to a funeral if they feel uncomfortable about it. In 2004 I took my two children (then aged 7 and 9) to their great-grandfather’s funeral (the funeral for my mother-in-law’s father, Gido). They attended the private viewing (where they saw and touched Gido in the open casket—In my […]

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt Melanie Hack Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend Read an excerpt now TV Shows and Clips […]

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying. Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is. Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, […]

For flowers that bloom about our feet; For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet; For song of bird, and hum of bee; For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we thank Thee! ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Melanie Hack Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend Read an excerpt now TV Shows […]