November 27, 2016 Dear Jonah, The day you were born, was certainly one of Maya’s favorite days! What a precious younger brother you have been to her. Maya was blessed to have you in her life! Sending you much love on your birthday from all of us!   Maya, Jonah and Talia through the years….

July 31, 2007 Dear Maya, As you’ve already learned from past entries (and as you probably know now, from knowing yourself) you are an extremely articulate person who is in touch with her feelings. I went to Fire Island for four days with some friends from high school.  We’ll all be turning 50 this upcoming…

“Maya would be so proud of you.”  These are the words that two teens, who I had never met before shared with me during a brief interaction.  These are the words that brought a lump to my throat and then the tears.  Were the sentiments behind these words, “thank you.  Your work is helping us. …

People wonder about signs. I often don’t look for or need signs, as I feel Maya’s presence constantly. Around me and inside of me. But yes, there are other times that signs are evident. There have been certain rainbows, a special wind, the way the sunlight hits grasses or the leaves, a bird or lights…

September 27, 2012 Dear Maya, It is likely fitting for me to start this journal with you as you just started your twelfth year.  Actually, it started a few years back when you asked me for a surprise party.  I mentioned then, that it is something one cannot necessarily request, as the party would no…

I’ll start by saying that I was raised by a mom who claimed to be an agnostic and our dad was, (and is) a staunch atheist.  If anything, our family fit into the category of “cultural Jews.”  If I wanted spirituality, I needed to seek on my own.  I tagged along with friends to their…

My friend, Darcy Smith, wrote a poem, “No Words.”  I am posting it today, in honor of Maya’s Yahrzeit,  Thank you Darcy, and Sadie Press for giving me permission to do so.   No Words Daring blue skies glare down the oak covered path that snakes to her house.   I step over leaves the…

And so.  Here we are.  Has it really been a year?  Many, if not all of the same thoughts, questions and feelings that were alive for me on October 2nd, 2015 have not quieted one little decibel.  They scream and echo inside of me constantly. “How could this be?”, is one that continues with practically…

I was up for a good part of the night and I had quite an extraordinary experience in the wee hours.  I went back to a year ago.  Actually, a year ago this coming weekend.  Maya and I took time together, just the two of us to be on an adventure in and around Provincetown.  During…

When our sister, Stephie died, she was 11 years old.  My parents wanted to do something special by her grave site.  I was not involved in the process as I was only 14 years old, but I learned that they were told that Mount Hebron Cemetery in Queens, had a moratorium.  It was too crowded;…