Gut-Wrenching Lyrics About Love and Loss - The Story Behind These Words

The lyrics I wrote for this song are rather gut-wrenching and extremely personal, but I'm sure many who have gone through loss can unfortunately relate.

On February 6th, 2026, I put these words together for Echoes of a Quiet Room. I felt compelled to sit down and finally share the story of the day the world stopped for me. It happened twice—first in 2013 with my dad, and then in 2021 with my mom. 

These words express some of the feelings I had in those moments, especially when my mother passed.

The Front Porch Never Felt So Empty

The lyrics to this song talk about our front porch never feeling so empty, the kitchen feeling empty, and my mom and dad's chairs being empty. 

But the truth is, these feelings didn't just occur the moment they passed. While it was much more powerful when Mom died—mostly because Dad was already gone—these feelings actually hit me hardest while Mom was in nursing care.

I would drive the car up our long driveway and look at those empty front steps, remembering all the life that had once been there. I'd pull into the garage and walk up into the house all by myself, without my mother, my father, or my brothers. I was walking into that house alone. 

There wasn't anything domestic being done anymore; the kitchen was just still. I would go into the family room and sit in her chair or Dad's chair, absolutely devastated by the realization that I was at a stage of life where they were no longer a part of the home, although they always will be in spirit, of course.

The hardest part when I think back was my parents not being there when I arrived. That was just one hundred percent brutal, and a bit weird all at the same time.

On the actual day my mom passed, I was with my brothers, so I wasn't alone. But the lyrics speak to those times she was in care, and I was at the house by myself, just existing in that space without them.

How We Get Through This Part of Life I'll Never Fully Understand, It's Brutal - That's The Only Way To Describe It

I've had a lot of trouble expressing the sheer loneliness I felt while Mom was in the hospital. Looking back, I feel a little bit proud of myself for managing such an intensely grief-stricken part of life.

I wonder how I even got through it. But the universal truth is that we don't know how strong we are until we have to be.

So many people out there are going through these exact same feelings, and that's why I wanted to write this song. 

For anyone who has suffered this kind of loss, know you aren't alone. Having lived this myself, I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone, but I unfortunately share it with you. I guess that's just part of life.

Grief really does just sneak up on us sometimes.

*************

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Reviewing National Guitar Day

 February 11 is known as National Guitar Day, a day to honor that iconic and versatile instrument known as the guitar.

The guitar is a widely appreciated instrument, valued by beginners learning their first chords and professionals performing on stage. Its pleasant sound is enjoyed by many fans of guitar music.

The History of the Guitar

Dating back over 4,000 years to Mesopotamia and Egypt, the guitar evolved into its modern form in Spain and later gained worldwide popularity. Whether it's a classical, electric, or bass guitar, its influence spans a wide range of musical genres, including folk, rock, jazz, blues, and pop.

The Basic Guitar

Basic guitars have six steel or nylon strings that create different sounds. 

Experts recommend beginners start with an acoustic guitar, which produces sound via string vibration and helps build finger strength, while electric guitars are often preferred by more advanced players

My Love of the Guitar

I entered college in the the Fall of 1959, which was a time of the popularity of Folk Music performed by such iconic groups as The Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul and Mary, and dozens more. All of these groups had at least one member playing the guitar.  Having attended a Kingston Trio concert at my college in the Fall of 1959, I became an instant fan of both Folk Music and the guitar. My roommates and I played the recordings of these groups, particularly of the Kingston Trio, over and over, singing along until we knew all the words to each song!

By the next semester, I had met the guitar-playing, folk-music-loving guy that I ended up marrying. While in college, he played the guitar and sang folk songs, along with two fraternity brothers, all over campus. Over the years, he continued to play the guitar and sing, occasionally with friends, but mostly to me. Naturally, I loved it. :) 

As the years went by, hubby’s musical talent showed up in our youngest son, who played 3 instruments before settling on the guitar as his main musical outlet. Son had his own band for a bit, before life and family obligations took up the time. Now, one of his sons, who is proficient on the violin, is currently teaching himself how to play the guitar. From hubby, to son to grandson, the guitar has played a part in our family’s lives. It truly is an instrument we all have enjoyed, either playing or listening. 

Summary

So, on February 11th, get out your guitar and play, or simply listen to some good guitar music as a way to celebrate this musical holiday.

*This review of National Guitar Day has been written by Wednesday Elf

+Images in this article are from Pixabay and personal photos of Wednesday Elf

Guitars and related products..... 

Fender Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar - Natural Bundle with Gig Bag, Tuner, Strings, Picks, and Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD

EASTROCK Guitar Stand - Guitar Stands Floor Adjustable Folding Guitar Stand for Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar Banjo Mandolin, Black Tripod with Foam Padding & Non-Slip Feet (1PACK)

Alfred's Easy Guitar Songs -- Rock & Pop: 50 Hits from Across the Decades

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Godiva Chocolate Reviewed

My husband has been giving me Godiva Chocolate for Valentine's Day and Christmas for decades.  

We first discovered this brand while shopping in a mall and seeing the Godiva store.  Back then, they boxed their candy in beautiful tin collectible boxes.  In recent years, they started using decorative boxes covered in fabric, some have even had lovely embroidered designs.  I keep the tins and decorative boxes and use them in my craft room.  The boxes alone have been gifts, but the chocolate is divine.  

Over the years, I started getting headaches when eating chocolate.  Some of my favorite things like chocolate ice cream or candy bars have become a thing of the past for me.  However, Godiva chocolate stands out as the one chocolate candy I can still enjoy.  For some reason, perhaps the type of cocoa they use, Godiva chocolate does not give me headaches.  That is pretty fantastic!  It is a way for me to still delve into the world of chocolate without paying a painful price.

Now, don't tell my husband, but I saw the package of Godiva chocolate for Valentine's Day delivered yesterday.  I left the box on the porch and acted totally ignorant.  Our Ring doorbell doesn't really allow me to be ignorant, but we can pretend. 

 

Godiva Chocolate for Valentine's Day

We have to purchase Godiva Chocolate online these days.  The store in the mall shut down years ago.  As of 2021, there are no Godiva brick and mortar stores.  Fortunately, the candy is still available online.  They still have a few tins available, but most of the larger boxes of candy now come in a gold box with a decorative ribbon.  

No matter how the chocolate is packaged, the candy is delicious! 

 Godiva Masterpiece Heart Chocolate Gift Tin, Assorted Milk & Dark Chocolate with Ganache & Caramel, Valentine’s Day Keepsake Gift for Her, 20pcCheck Price Godiva Red Ribbon Gold Assorted Chocolate Gift Box, Belgian Dark and Milk Chocolates with Pralinés, Ganaches & Caramels, Gourmet Valentine's Day GiftCheck Price Godiva Masterpiece Heart Chocolate Gift Tin, Assorted Milk & Dark Chocolate with Ganache, Valentine’s Day Keepsake Gift for Her, 7pcCheck Price

 

 

If you want the tins, you may find them on Ebay, without the candy, of course.

 

 

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Godiva Chocolate Reviewed by:

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All in One Course, for Piano, Review

Decades ago, when I first took piano lessons, I was instructed to purchase individual books on theory, and some other books as well. There were three or four books that I had purchased. It is what was available at the time, and I got the books my teacher recommended.

When I had gone for quite awhile without playing, sans piano, I decided to get some books to help me relearn piano.

What I found was a book that has Lesson, Theory, and Solo, all in one book. I already worked through Book 1, and have recently started with Book 2.

I like this approach much butter, you learn a bit of theory along with explanations, and practice songs to reinforce the theory and technique, all in one book.

It's so much nicer having the various steps of learning, all in one place, in an easy understandable order, without having to go to one book from another; it's all sequential. It's much easier for one to follow and know what to do next, especially if they don't have a piano teacher.

When I started working in Book 2 of the All in One Course, Lesson, Theory, Solo, I was able to jump in and play the presented song from beginning to end, (They are short."), without much hesitation. I am pleasantly making progress. I know it helps that I had piano lessons many years ago, but overall, I think this method is much more enjoyable than the earlier method was, and easier too.

It is so nice having the lessons flow from one aspect to the next, in a sequential order, all in one book. If you are interested in checking out this book on Amazon, you can check it out here: All in One Course. There are other books in this series for different levels.

Cheryl Paton

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Final Orbit ~ A Book Review

Final Orbit is a novel that you just won't be able to put down.  Chris Hadfield is a master at putting together a story that is full of facts and yet manages to weave in some fiction into the story plot as well. He is much loved Canadian Astronaut, author, musician and writer.  This reviewer has read his books and loved each one.  But let's get into the Final Orbit!

The 1970's space race had everyone interested in what was out there.  There was much political, international and general interest in all of the exploration of the moon, the space station and the possibilities of future travels in space.

In 1975 the space race took on a whole new focus as Apollo and the Russian Soyuz were to jointly dock with the now abandoned Space Station.  It was a time of hope for the whole world that the two super powers could in fact come together to benefit all of mankind with  cooperation and not with suspicions.

But unknown to both the US and Russia, China has been secretly trying to enter into the space race as well.  Deep in remote location, China secretly launches it's first manned spaceship.   No one knows what their purpose is and even though the Russians and Americans are working together, they are never totally above being suspicious of each other too.

This space mission is full of many triumphs and many  mistakes as well, not just in the heavens but here on earth as well.  Three of the six astronauts die during a decompression error.  One of the Soviet's and two American astronauts are no longer part of the mission as it was supposed to happen.  That leaves two Soviet's and one American aboard the Apollo capsule to figure out what needs to be done and how to do it.  Just to add to the astronauts stress, there is the language barrier to work through and teaching the Cosmonauts how the Apollo works, compared to their Soyuz craft.  And then there is that pesky Chinese astronaut out there too.  

It doesn't take too much imagination to put yourself right into that Apollo capsule along side these three space travellers.  That's what makes this book so intriguing.  

If you are an astronaut wannabe or get excited about the possibilities of outer space travel, this book is for you!  

If you lived through the 1960's and beyond, the Space Race and all of the missions Apollo made, you will relive some history that was happening on earth during that time as well.  The Cold War, Patty Hearst. civil unrests and more are all part of what happened during this mission.  

Once you open the book, Final Orbit, will be glued to your hands until you finish the last page. and then you will want to go back to the start and read it all over again.  

Well done Chris Hadfield, well done indeed!

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Reviewing Liquid Level Indicators For People With Sight Loss.

 

A Liquid level indicator is not something I  had heard of until my husband was diagnosed with severe sight loss-blind.

 It is surprising all the little things you take for granted when you are sighted and how much you need to relearn or adapt with sight loss. 

Simply making a hot drink, a tea, a coffee had become some thing just a little more difficult for my husband. We did not know what he was supposed to do to know how high the hot water was. Did he just put his finger at the top of the mug and risk being burned, or did he give up making hot drinks altogether?

 Even cold drinks were an issue as unless made over the sink we could have many spills to clear up.

Making a hot drink became a real challenge. We worried that he would burn himself or spill hot or cold liquids over the worktops and floor, it then itself becoming a safety hazard, or put his hand in hot liquids. Suddenly something that most adults take for granted became an issue and a lack of independence.  

We went to an information session soon after he was diagnosed. It was all a little overwhelming but we noticed that the drinks were being made by a blind person and we kept hearing these little bleeps and I noticed a small device hung over the mugs. It wasn't long before the session began and drinks were handed out. So I asked what is that device you used and he started to explain. 

In this article we will be using the terms severe sight impaired, blind, low vision, partially sighted and sight loss as these are the current acceptable terms in my country for people with sight loss. This may change over time and be different in different countries. No offence is intended by any of these terms.

What Is a Liquid Level Indicator And How Does It Work?

It is a small device that clips  or hangs onto the edge of a cup, mug, soup mug or glass. 

1. Place it so that the metal prongs are on the inside of the container. Often there are two levels of prongs one for a general alert - this is when you should stop pouring. However, If you carry on pouring there is often an emergency alert when you must stop pouring. 

2.Then you simply pour the liquid as usual from the kettle, tap or jug. 

3. As the level of the liquid rises the liquid touches the metal prongs and device uses sound or vibration to let you know when the mug, glass, jug or whatever is nearly full. 

4. These alerts give you enough time to stop pouring before the liquid reaches the top. 

5. Then you stop and take the device off the mug or glass. Simple as that ! 

There are different models to choose from but that is the essentials of every Liquid level indicator. It then all depends what you are wanting and what is most helpful to a person individually.

• Most have an alert when the liquid nearly reaches the top.
• Many have two alert levels, one when the mug or glass is nearly full and one emergency alert when it is nearly to the top. 
• Some have bleeping and vibration when liquid is reaching the top.
• Some advanced models differentiate between hot and cold liquids, offering stronger alerts for hot drinks to enhance safety. We don't have that one, but may consider it for the future. 
• I have also heard of "smart" models which link to a smartphone but these are not common and  I have not experienced one.

My husband is happy with our quite straightforward model which bleeps and vibrates when the liquid is close to the top. It is clear, simple and effective. 

It takes only a very little time to get used to using it and to remember to use it, but it is not a steep learning curve. There are no courses to go on or skills you need to know. It is just practice and habit.

My husband said it is very easy for him to use. It is a good idea to start with a cold drink and then progress to hot drinks once you feel  confident. 

 Liquid level indicator in BlueCheck Price

 

Why Does Being Able To Make A Simple Drink Matter?

For many people with severe sight loss, pouring drinks is a significant and frequent challenging task throughout the day. Think about how many times you make a drink in a typical day ! 

Especially when making hot drinks, it becomes a safety issue and can carry a real risk of burns. Not being able to make a drink safely robs a person of autonomy and independence.

A liquid level indicator helps

• Preventing burns from overfilled hot drinks, or feeling the need to stick a finger in the cup to test how far the liquid has reached, which is a significant safety risk. 
• Reducing spills and cleaning them up.
• Reducing the risk of slipping on wet floors
• Supporting independence and confidence in normal, everyday tasks
• Supports a person with sight loss still being able to make drinks for themselves and friends and family.
• For people who live alone it is essential to be able to make a drink safely. 
• Even if living with other people or at work, the ability to make a drink for yourself and others is a small but significant sign of independence. My husband now loves to make me a hot drink of coffee in the morning and it is a lovely start the day !
• Although primarily used by people who are diagnosed severe sight impaired or partially sighted, this device can also be useful to people who have tremors or motor impairments and people who may have declining vision, macular degeneration, cataracts or other sight issues. 

 Liquid level indicator in BlackCheck Price

 

Features To Consider In A Liquid Level Indicator

• Audible alerts, look for clear, loud beeps
• Vibration mode is useful if the person also has hearing loss or just prefers a vibration rather than a noise. The vibration should be strong enough to feel through the hand holding the container.
• Some have both audible and vibration alerts which can be useful in busy, noisy places.
• Magnetic can be useful. We love ours as it sticks the fridge freezer so takes up no room on worktops and is vey easy for my husband to find.
• Lightweight and easy to carry so it can be taken when travelling and visiting friends and family, to hotels etc.
• Heat resistant as clearly it needs to be safe to use with very hot drinks.
• A good battery and/or rechargeable battery
• A good price, many are not expensive, it all depends how sophisticated you would like it to be, but a basic model works well. Some organisations and sight loss charities provide them at a reduced cost.

So a liquid level indicator is another example of a low tech, reasonably priced and simple device that can make a huge difference to independence, confidence, dignity and safety for a person with sight loss. It is now just a part of our kitchen devices and appliances and we would not be without it. 

More Useful Reviews To Read 

Read More Reviews By Raintree Annie

Read More Product Reviews on ReviewThisProducts.com

Reviewing Sensory Garden For A Person With Sight Loss Part One

Reviewing Sensory Garden For A Person With Sight Loss Part Two

Reviewing Benefits And Features Of Talking Clocks

Reviewing Liquid Level Indicators For People With Sight Loss by Raintree Annie.

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The Knitted Scarf that Reignited My Desire to Master Tunisian Crochet

The beautiful knitted Sophie Scarf has taken the yarn art world by storm. This is a retro style scarf with a modern, knit pattern.  This scarf reminds me of fashionable women in the 1950's, women such as Audrey Hepburn, and has reignited my desire to build my Tunisian crochet skills. 

Knitted Sophie Scarf

As far as I can determine, the original Sophie Scarf knit pattern was created and offered by Petite Knit.  It is no wonder that this small scarf, with a pleasing shape, and I-cord edging became popular. It is a handmade item that many people would choose to wear. It is functional and pretty. 

Of course, with all things viral or popular, the copycat versions appeared overnight. 

If you are a knitter, or if you are a person who supports small business, I hope you will find Petite Knit and use her pattern or support her by interacting on her social media pages. I will include those links below.

Crochet Scarf Versions

I enjoy crocheting. There are many beautiful crochet stitches and a vast variety of patterns available from beginner to expert. There are some crochet Sophie Scarf (or skinny scarf) copycat patterns that I like. Some of those feature ribbing, thicker yarn, and bigger stitches. I have plenty of those patterns saved for later. They often have a more rustic look that would pair great with Carhartt, denim, or similar jackets and coats.

However, in my opinion, knit makes a prettier, more delicate, stitch and lends itself better to certain items; sweaters, socks, and many styles of scarves are handmade wearables that I think are often prettier done in knit.  

Tunisian Crochet

I think that Tunisian crochet is a wonderful blend between the knit and crochet outcomes. Tunisian crochet is created with one hook that is often the length of a knitting needle but with a crochet hook on the tip. Tunisian crochet, in my opinion, creates a more fine stitch than crochet. 

Don't misunderstand me. I love crochet. When making afghans, chunky hats, thick scarves and slippers I feel that I will always gravitate toward crochet. But now that I have decided to make 

The best difference between knitting and Tunisian crochet, for myself, is that when I drop a knitting stitch, or make a mistake, I can NOT successfully backtrack and fix the mistake or pick up the dropped stitch. With Tunisian, like crochet, each row starts with one loop on the hook. I can rip out the mistake back to the beginning of the row, and continue on with the project. 

But I Don't Wear Scarves

That is right, I don't wear scarves. Nor do I gravitate toward trends, especially fashion trends. So why am I head over heels with this scarf trend?

Gifts.  Gifts that I think the receivers will love. 

Over the past couple of months, I have focused on creating crochet items to donate to the local care home.  I feel that the elderly who live in a care facility are often overlooked. I am planning to donate lap blankets, hats, shawls and such.  As soon as I saw the Sophia Scarf trend I thought of women's fashions and the women who may have worn that trend in their youth.

While I recently wrote that I am learning knit, thanks to switching to wooden knitting needles that help me to control the yarn, I am very slow when knitting. I make many mistakes and I am not yet able to fix mistakes. I end up scrapping an entire project when knitting. However, when I am finished working on these projects with the self-imposed timeline, I WILL continue to practice knitting and WILL begin to make the knit Sophie Scarves by Petite Knit. They are just that pretty. 

I made a very brief video to show friends and family my newest project. You are welcome to look. I realize that I misspoke and named the wrong Hepburn in the video. 

Related Links:

I believe the original, knit Sophie Scarf pattern was created by Petite Knit. You can find that pattern on the website. 

For Tunisian Crochet inspiration, I highly recommend checking out HookLoopSarah on Instagram for beautiful photos of her talented yarn work. It is difficult to believe that her sweaters are handmade. But I believe it since I've followed her for almost 10 years now. I used her very brief tutorials on her YouTube channel for reminders and pointers with Tunisian crochet. You can also find her on her website.  

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That Point Where You Say, “I Can’t Do This the Same Way Anymore”

I wrote The Tango of My Life around 2009. I wasn’t personally walking away from my life at the time, but I know I must have been stressed. You know those moments — when life feels loud and heavy, when everything piles up at once, and you suddenly think, I just want my life back. That’s where these lyrics came from.

When Life Gets Too Loud

This song is an empowerment song, but not in a dramatic or rebellious way. It’s for women who feel overwhelmed. Not women who are necessarily trying to walk out on their lives, but women who reach that quiet breaking point where they say, Damn… that’s it. I need to find me again.

That’s where the lyric Destination Me comes from. It came from that internal moment when you stop trying to hold everything together for everyone else and realize you need to turn back toward yourself. Destination Me isn’t about leaving your life — it’s about returning to yourself within it. It’s the decision to choose yourself without knowing exactly what the next step looks like.

This song isn’t about running away. It’s about claiming yourself again.

Writing Was Always My Exit - Sometimes Saving Me From Heading to the Front Door!

For me, the exit was never leaving — it was writing. Some people journal. I write lyrics. I’ve been doing that since 1968 (yah, I was 8 years old). When life gets tangled, when emotions don’t come in neat sentences, I put them into a song or a poem.

The Tango of My Life came from that place. It came from needing to breathe. From needing to hear my own voice again. From realizing that sometimes the only way through overwhelming life circumstances is to stop and put the truth somewhere safe.

This song isn’t about quitting on people, and it isn’t about abandoning your life. I’m not saying that some people don’t need to leave certain situations — sometimes they do — but this song holds more than one truth. It can be a momentary feeling of get me out of here, or a long-standing knowing that something has to change. It holds both.

The Middle Still Belongs to You

The song talks about how someone else may have gotten the beginning of your story, but you still get to decide the middle — and ultimately, the ending. That part belongs to you. Always.

This is a song for people reclaiming their lives. It’s also for someone who’s just having a bad day and thinking, I’ve had enough. I need to pause. I need to do this for me.

If that’s you — even just for today — this song is for you.

********

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