life help: I’m looking for a quote on grief that I have lost. - Help.com

I have tried searching for this quote using some of the key words mentioned in your post. Alas, my efforts were to no avail. By the way you described it, I’m almost certain that I have read it somewhere before. It seems vaguely familiar.

If you happen to find it, please let me know.

“A man’s house burns down. The smoking wreckage represents only a ruined home that was dear through years of use and pleasant associations. By and by, as the days and weeks go on, first he misses this, then that, then the other thing. And when he casts about for it he finds that it was in that house. Always it is an essential — there was but one of its kind. It cannot be replaced. It was in that house. It is irrevocably lost. It will be years before the tale of lost essentials is complete, and not till then can he truly know the magnitude of his disaster.”

-Mark Twain

That one?

Thank you mills
Thanks for trying. Will certainly let you know if I find it.

Thank you Daft Puck
Thanks for posting that.
The one I am looking for is more metaphorical, longer, and written more recently I think.

The author talks about how others expect that he will rebuild his house (his life) so it will be the same as before. But he has just lost his wife (?) and this loss in his life will mean that his house (life) will never be the same. I seem to recall something about his house only having three walls. But that is how it is now, and he learns to live with that. There is now something missing in his life which cannot be replaced. He learns to live with that loss. He wants others to accept that that is what his house (life) is like now, and not try to pretend that it will return to what it was before his loss.

I’ve found it.

It is a piece called “Three-Sided House”, by Steve Ryan; and can be found in the book “Lessons of Loss” by Robert A. Neimeyer.
http://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Loss-A-…

It has been printed in a Newsletter here (downloads as a pdf):
http://www.aacounty-md-bereavedparent…

Thanks again to mills and Daft Puck for your help.

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve found it.

It is a piece called “Three-Sided House”, by Steve Ryan; and can be found in the book “Lessons of Loss” by Robert A. Neimeyer.
http://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Loss-A-…

It has been printed in a Newsletter here (downloads as a pdf):
http://www.aacounty-md-bereavedparent…

Thanks again to mills and Daft Puck for your help.

You’re welcome. :)

I’m glad you found it. Actually, I think Daft Puck found the quote for which I was searching.

That was quite an interesting story by Steve Ryan nonetheless.

mills wrote:
I’m glad you found it. Actually, I think Daft Puck found the quote for which I was searching.

That was quite an interesting story by Steve Ryan nonetheless.

Cool! Glad I could help. :)