Grieving: A rope ritual

Photo by Marcus Ganahl on Unsplash

It’s possible to grieve for someone before they have died. Waves of anger, sadness, and disbelief washed over me out of the blue on a regular winter day while running errands in the city. I have stopped by the drug store for some rice crackers and shampoo, and as I pack up my purchases, I spot a figure on the ground by the shopping carts. A frail old woman has fallen while trying to put the deposit coin into the slot on the handle; the cart —…