Essay: Species of Grief

My father died. Then my dog died. I’m not sure which variety of grief is worse.

Phoebe on the Hudson

Originally published May 1, 2019 in Medium.

Two weeks ago, just a few days after the long-planned memorial service for my father, I had to put my dog down.

My father had died six months earlier after a relatively brief illness. The grief felt like a slow, steady trickle, a constant if generally manageable sadness. It was different for…