All right. I confess to occasional bouts of bumbling wordlessness when:
- Someone confesses to being diagnosed with cancer.
- When infertile friends share they are considering adoption after years of infertility.
- A family friend shares his Alzheimers diagnosis.
- Our neighbors announce their divorce.
- My brother-in-law loses his job.
- Life surprises.
It appears Hallmark Cards is going to allow me my silence, and instead hand over one of their new Journeys of Life greeting cards that shares the prescripted words I would want to share if only I could. Hallmark has a collection of 176 cards that cover not only lifes trials and tragedies, but its celebrations as well. The four main themes these cards cover are hoping, coping, healing and joy. That covers a lot of life.
Hallmarks best line? Welcome to The New Normal!
Meanwhile, Im still struggling to find normal or something close to it.



A hug is worth a thousand words.
My favorite card ever just said “Have a day” and an expressionless yellow “smiley face”.
Athol: Hugs say much and touch in ways words cannot.
Your favorite card is a hoot!
Aha! My son’s counselor informed me last week that “NORMAL” is simply a setting on the washing machine….