{"product_id":"2940012380180","title":"Saying Goodbye","description":"Saying Goodbye is a collection of true stories about saying goodbye to the people, places, and things in our lives. The stories are universal. They are incredibly powerful and moving. And they are surprisingly uplifting and cathartic. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese stories show that there is sadness in goodbyes, but there is also irony and humor. We cry about the sad stories, we laugh at the funny ones, and along the way, we learn valuable lessons about how we say goodbye -- sometimes under the most difficult of circumstances. We learn because the contributors are unflinchingly open and honest when it comes to sharing very personal stories about how they and their loved ones say goodbye. Taken together, these stories serve as amazing examples of how to say goodbye with grace, dignity, and good humor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSaying Goodbye is the first anthology in a new series from Dream of Things intended to fill the gap between popular anthologies of stories that are \"short and sweet\" and the Best American Essays series, which are longer form. Dream of Things anthologies are collections of quality stories between 500 and 2,500 words. Instead of short and sweet, these stories are short and deep.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I recommend it for any teacher of death and dying classes. I also recommend it for anyone who is struggling with a loss - no matter what kind.\" Professor Jann Adams, Department of Psychology, College of Idaho\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHere is an overview of the essays in Saying Goodbye: \u003cbr\u003eIn \"Bridget,\" a young man says goodbye to the memory of a little girl who has haunted him since childhood.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"The Evolution of Your Goodbyes,\" the author lovingly recounts visits with her father as he drifts away via Alzheimer's disease.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Daddy's Request,\" a daughter learns that her father can sense things, even if he can't see them.\u003cbr\u003e\"Intersections\" traces the comings and goings of a woman, her mother, and her daughter.\u003cbr\u003e\"The Sea Monster\" begins with a brother and sister building sand castles on the beach, and ends with a woman who won't go back to the sea.\u003cbr\u003e\"Benediction: Mom's Last Scrabble Game\" tells the story of an uncanny Scrabble victory by a woman in pink bedroom slippers.\u003cbr\u003e\"Love Letters\" is the heart-wrenching story of a widower's decision to honor his promise to his late wife about their love letters.\u003cbr\u003e\"The Skid Row Float\" recounts the humorous procession of sofas that the author's family inherits from a series of lovely old great aunts.\u003cbr\u003e\"Dawn\" is a wonderful tribute from one strong friend to another.\u003cbr\u003e\"Holding Him Softly\" is an intimate look at a young woman's decision to give up her son for adoption.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Dreaming as the Summers Die,\" an adopted daughter clings to memories of her \"real\" mother.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"The Lilac Bush,\" the scent of lilacs takes the author back to the lilac bush of her childhood home--and to memories of her mother.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"We Are Gathered,\" a wedding reminds us of those who are no longer with us--and of the importance of celebrating life.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Finding the Words,\" a four-year-old boy impresses his mother with his grasp of the situation at a funeral.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"The Santa Sack,\" a young man leaves home, and a mother tucks away the sack that held his Christmas presents each year.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"A Tree of Life,\" children climb and a falcon roosts in a tree that sprang from ashes.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"At Gilda's,\" a woman teaches yoga at a cancer center, and learns lessons about living with disease.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Ghosthouse,\" a woman returns to the neighborhood where she grew up, only to find her old house has gone missing!\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Pickles,\" the deliberate, joyful labor of a dying woman comes to fruition when two sisters find their mother's pickles while cleaning out her refrigerator.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Memorial Day,\" a woman teeters between her marriage and an affair before finding purpose and a reason for \"wide-eyed, deliberate living.\"\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Goodbye Upstairs,\" a man decides to clean house--before it's too late.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Dummy Dora,\" a little girl has trouble saying goodbye to her pacifier.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Lotus, Falling,\" a mother's final days are akin to \"a lotus blossom falling gently to the ground.\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Turning in My Keys\" is the last act as a teacher retires after 37 years in the classroom.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Saying Goodbye to a Faithful Companion,\" a writer says goodbye to an old jogging suit that his wife decides is a little too old.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Puppy Love,\" a woman's time with her new puppy passes too quickly.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"The Guest in My Mother's Home,\" a daughter adapts to her new role as a \"guest\" when she returns home.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"The Pink Thing,\" you'll be delighted when the author finds the lost \"pink thing\"--and when you find out what the \"pink thing\" is!\u003cbr\u003eIn \"A Bloody Good Party,\" you can't help but admire the moxie of a man who helps plan his own funeral. \u003cbr\u003eIn \"The Mumo Letters,\" a young woman keeps her late grandmother up-to-date via a series of letters.\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Au Revoir Jane,\" a young woman learns from an older woman about how to live in style.","brand":"Dream of Things","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47078806913264,"sku":"2940012380180","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940012380180_p0.jpg?v=1763568104","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940012380180","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}