Some Deaths Hit Me Harder

May you rest in peace, Sinéad.

After feeding the kids dinner I headed to the middle of a football field on the campus of a private Catholic school, where I proceeded to belt out Sinéad O’Connor songs at the top of my lungs.

How do you grieve?

Some Celebrity Deaths Hit Me Harder

O’Connor’s death today at 56 stopped me in my tracks. Hearing the news knocked the wind out of me.

My hand immediately reached to hold my heart.

Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor catapulted to fame when I was in high school in the early 90s. I know several of her albums by heart. Every single song.

I was still mostly a good girl then, but I was paying close attention to women who were not.

I was watching and taking notes as Sinéad called out abuse and spoke truth to power. Unapologetically.

With her lyrics, her shaved head, and her refusal to play the “Star Spangled Banner” before concerts. By shredding a picture of the Pope in front of millions on “Saturday Night L…