Ep. 284 | Five Stars, Would Grieve Again: Aaron Simmons

2026-07-13

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Anita and Mel are joined by widower Aaron Simmons, who shares the story of losing his wife just six days after what was supposed to be a routine abdominoplasty, when she suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism.Aaron describes the surreal experience of grief, saying it felt like his entire life had been turned inside out "like a sock." He talks about learning to hold gratitude alongside grief, and how that journey led to an extraordinary project: Widow, Widower, Widowest. Created from his wife's journals,...

Aaron describes the surreal experience of grief, saying it felt like his entire life had been turned inside out "like a sock." He talks about learning to hold gratitude alongside grief, and how that journey led to an extraordinary project: Widow, Widower, Widowest. Created from his wife's journals, artwork, and creative voice, Aaron says he wrote the book with her after she died, weaving together her words with his own experience of becoming a widower.

It's a conversation about devastating loss, enduring love, and the unexpected ways our people can continue to shape our lives after they're gone. Aaron's perspective is thoughtful, funny, and deeply moving—including his unforgettable review of grief: "Five stars. Would grieve again."

Check out Aaron's book, Widow, Widower, Widowest: A Grief Mosaic at: https://www.widowest.com