After the abrupt death of my mother, Jane, on Sept. 5, 1991, of a disease called amyloidosis, my dad took up golf at 57. He and my mother had always played tennis - a couples' game of mixed doubles and tennis bracelets and Love-Love. But in mourning, Dad turned Job-like to golf, a game of frustration and golf widows and solitary hours on the range.

The quote "After the abrupt death of my mother, Jane, on Sept. 5, 1991, of a disease called amyloidosis, my dad took up golf at 57," by Steve Rushin, reflects the profound impact of loss and the ways individuals cope with grief. Steve describes how the death of his mother prompted his father to pick up a new activity, golf, as a way to deal with the overwhelming emotions of mourning. The mention of the disease, amyloidosis, gives context to the mother’s sudden passing, making the loss even more jarring.

In the quote, Steve contrasts the couple’s former shared love for tennis—a lively, social game—with his father’s shift to the more solitary pursuit of golf. Tennis, associated with couples’ games and lighthearted moments like “Love-Love” (a tennis term), symbolizes a connection and shared joy. In contrast, golf is depicted as a more isolating activity, full of frustration and long hours spent alone, reflecting his father's shift into solitude during his mourning process.

The comparison between tennis and golf also highlights the changes in his father’s emotional state after his mother's death. While tennis represented togetherness, golf represented a more solitary and reflective experience. The mention of "Job-like" suggests that his father took up golf with a sense of duty, almost as if it were a task to be endured rather than enjoyed, emphasizing the emotional burden of grief.

Steve’s reference to “golf widows” further underscores the loneliness and the emotional withdrawal that can happen when someone retreats into their own world of mourning. This quote provides a poignant reflection on how people cope with loss, sometimes turning to new activities or rituals that offer a sense of distraction or release, even if they cannot replace the void left behind by the loved one’s death.