• My Secret Santa gave me the best gift… and a lovely mug

    December 29, 2013 / 1 Comment

    npr mugSo this was my first year participating in Reddit’s Secret Santa exchange. I signed up on a lark, and had a great time finding a fun gift for my person. I honestly didn’t give much thought to the man or woman who would receive my name because, frankly, it’s more fun to give than receive.

    Well, my Secret Santa turned out to be really good at his job.

    To research my gift, Santa searched my profile and my website. Then he sent me a gorgeous mug from NPR. Buying this mug not only brought me much happiness — who doesn’t love a big mug of coffee/tea/cocoa/soup? — it also helped NPR, which is one of my favorite institutions.

    He didn’t stop there, though. No, Santa went above and beyond this year. While researching me, he stumbled upon a blog post I wrote in November. In it, I mentioned that anyone querying about what birthday/Xmas presents to buy should visit my Amazon wish list; it contained about 90 items, half of which were under $20. In that same post, I also mentioned that if buying stuff wasn’t appealing, I would love love love for people to do one thing for me: Sign up to become an organ donor.

    amys-mugNow what I didn’t mention in that blog post was that my best friend in the whole world died in 1999. Kind, pretty and funny as hell, Amy spent years dealing with a bum kidney. Despite being on meds and dialysis, her previously donated kidney slowly deteriorated. And before she could receive a new one, Ames had a stroke and died. Alone. On the floor of her living room.

    She was 29 years old.

    I have missed her every day since then. Every single day. And if I could have one wish, it would be to turn back time and figure out a way to get her a new, healthy kidney. Since that is (currently) impossible, I have made it my mission in life to get others to help. Please help. Sign up to donate your organs after you die.

    And that is exactly what my Secret Santa did.

    Thank you, Santa. The mug is lovely and I will certainly put it to good use. But your decision to check that little box and agree to donate your organs was the best gift of all.

    Someday, it’s a gift that could save another person’s life. How cool is that?

  • In Memoriam: A look back at the people we lost in 2013

    December 28, 2013 / No Comments

    hourglass.jpgSome people view obituaries as morbid stories, but in truth only one line of an obit deals with death. The rest of the story focuses on the amazing lives people lead. In 2013, these 13 obituaries were the stories that most resonated with me:

    * Helen Thomas, reporter, columnist and dean of the White House Press Corps

    * Abigail Van Buren, advice columnist

    * Roger Ebert, movie critic

    * Elmore Leonard, author

    * Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the first black president of South Africa

    * Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of Britain

    * Ed Koch, former New York City mayor

    * Gary David Goldberg, TV producer

    * Ray Harryhausen, special effects pioneer

    * Tom Clancy, author

    * Peter O’Toole, actor

    * James Gandolfini, actor

    * Jean Stapleton, actress

  • John and Rita’s Holiday House

    December 23, 2013 / 1 Comment

    For many years, John and Rita Chakalos decorated their home with millions of lights. The 82-acre property, located at 140 Pond Brook Road in Chesterfield, N.H., was so filled with Christmas cheer that thousands of people drove by each year to see it.

    John and Rita never charged a fee to view their home, though light knows their electricity bills must have been through the roof. Instead, the couple simply asked passersby to make small food donations. These offerings were then given to a local food bank, which serves hungry people in our area. Last year, there were so many donations that the food bank was stocked up until April.

    In November, right before Thanksgiving, Rita died of cancer at the age of 84. Despite the grief of losing his wife of 59 years, John decided to decorate the property for Christmas, and even filled one tree with pink lights in her honor.

    M and I had planned to drive by their house to view the festive display and the memorial tree. Unfortunately, we can no longer do so. A few days ago, John’s body was found inside his Connecticut home. He reportedly died of a gunshot wound to his head. It is unknown at this time if the shot was self-inflicted or not, but police are investigating the incident as a homicide.

    John and Rita’s generosity and goodwill helped the poor and hungry. And everyone in the area knows their home because of the decorations and lights that were lovingly displayed each year. The couple left behind four daughters, but the entire community mourns their deaths.

    I wonder if they truly realized just how many people they touched.

    I hope so.

  • Watch it: A guide to the perfect timepiece

    December 22, 2013 / 1 Comment

    watchMany people don’t wear watches anymore. Why bother when the time is available on nearly every technical gadget known to mankind?

    I’m not wed to my cellphone, though. And there are occasions when I actually step away from my computer. It is during those moments that I like to wear a watch. I just prefer having immediate access to Time.

    That said, I do admit to having a few specific requirements for my time-keeper.

    First of all, I prefer to wear men’s watches. They’re larger (I’m nearly blind), less bling-y (I’m not flashy) and more comfortable since the band tends to be wider (comfort is king… err, queen).

    I require a watchband that’s black, dark brown or silver, and it should never catch on my arm hair.

    The face of the timepiece must have a scratch-resistant surface, and present an analog countenance. I learned to tell time on an actual clock, and wearing a digital watch feels like cheating. Sadly, my alarm clock is digital, and years of staring at its face in an insomnia-induced stupor has instilled a serious dislike for those shiny, neon digits.

    So, I like a big man’s watch with a wide band and an analog face. But those aren’t my only requirements. I also prefer arabic numerals to roman ones. The numbers should be in a large serif font, and all 12 digits ought to be visible.

    As for extras, I like to keep things simple. The only additional accoutrements I want on a watch are: moon phases, calendars and a second hand.

    Above all, the watch needs to be accurate.

    How do you like to tell time?

  • 2013: The Year In Review

    December 18, 2013 / 2 Comments

    At the end of the year, I always take a moment to examine the ups and downs I experienced, both personally and professionally. What follows is my accounting of 2013:

    * Produced hundreds of breaking news stories, including the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the intensive manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers and countless mass shootings.

    * Blogged for The Obituary Forum, The Blog of Death, Hooked From The First Page and Afterthoughts.

    * Passed the 29,000th tweet mark on my personal Twitter account (@jadewalker) and received the “I’m real” checkmark of verification.

    * Penned 60 journal entries.

    * Worked on my novel.

    * Purchased a Fitbit, increased my daily steps/stairs and cut back on my sleep debt. Also started using FitBolt to decrease time spent sitting.

    * Subscribed to the HelloFresh and Plated food services, then cooked a ton of delicious dishes.

    * Read 38 books and countless magazines.

    * Watched more than 30 films.

    * Took classes in archaeology, disaster preparedness, health/nutrition, literature and photography.

    * Launched The 10th Muse, a mailing list of writing prompts.

    * Updated The Written Word.

    * Participated in the New York City Writers Group, the South Florida Freelancers Group and the Journalism & Women Symposium.

    * Attended The Society of Professional Obituary Writers (SPOW) conference in Canada and launched the group’s private Facebook page.

    * Created a YouTube video about the future of obituaries.

    * Featured in a CNN article about obituaries.

    * Profiled on JobShadow.

    * Built websites for my husband and grandfather.

    * Redesigned The SPOW website as well as my own.

    * Went house-hunting in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.

    * Dyed my hair red.

    * Traveled to Burlington Vt., New York City, Toronto and Scotland.

    * Visited the monument to Phineas Gage.

    * Tended a garden of basil, oregano, catnip, romaine lettuce, mint, thyme and flowers.

    * Dealt with the libelous rantings of a couple of cyber-trolls (yes, lawyers were involved).

    * Saw Stephen King, Sting and Stuart McLean in person.

    * Leased a new car.

    * Perfected my versions of fudge, chocolate drop cookies, carrot cake, chicken pilaf and lasagna.

    * Celebrated my 4th wedding anniversary.

    * Turned 40.

    * * *

    End of the yearPlans/goals for 2014

    * Save up enough money for a down payment on a house.

    * Write more snail mail letters.

    * Work on my books.

    * Write more obits.

    * Write more poetry/short stories.

    * Experience fewer migraines.

    * Eat more fruits and vegetables.

    * Exercise.

    * Win the lottery.