death of a parent, he wrote, despite our preparation, indeed, despite our age, dislodges things deep in us, sets off reactions that surprise us and that may cut free memories and feelings that we had thought gone to ground long ago.
In her book "The Year of Magical Thinking," Joan Didion reflects on the profound impact of losing a parent. She discusses how, regardless of whether we feel prepared or how old we are, such a loss can evoke unexpected emotions and reactions. It reveals deep-seated feelings and memories that we believed were buried and no longer relevant.
Didion explores the complexities of grief, illustrating that the death of a loved one...