Dale was a sweetheart. He was a little bit of a thrill-seeker. He loved being out on the water on a boat, being a daredevil pulled by a tube. And he loved riding motorcycles.

On Dec. 27, I kept saying I was waiting for my hug from Dale for my birthday. The therapist picked up his arm and put it around my neck. ... It's heartbreaking. You live through the sadness, the numbness, the grieving. You live through the not knowing and constantly wondering. We want Dale back the way Dale was.

He's not eating, he's not talking, and he's in a restless, agitated state right now.

I'm married to a black man.

If there's a living nightmare, this is it.

Big trees have more leaves to trap air pollution and transpire water into the air. They have more roots to hold the soil against wind and rain erosion, and their wealth of branches and twigs cradle nests and dens. And big trees can absorb more greenhouse gases.