What I appreciated most were the cards and notes and the help with meals.
The thoughtful cards with their comforting words lifted my spirits, just knowing that people cared and wanted to reach out.
And the meals helped keep me going. Those early days were very hard. Local friends actually coordinated and brought dinners, and others sent take-out gifts or gift cards. I didn’t care that it was a time-worn custom; not having to think about food in those first days helped greatly. A plant was a nice thought, but I really didn’t want to bother with something else that needed to be taken care of. A roast chicken with potatoes and vegetables relieved me of a burden.