Since My Dad Died

Once again, writing saves my life

I got out my buttons and beads this weekend with my granddaughter, who is six. She picked through them with fascination and care, as she always does. And she found one she hadn’t noticed before—a silver beetle charm. A scarab, actually. In ancient Egypt, scarabs were symbols of eternal life. Here’s how the internet explains:

Scarabs were symbols of rebir…