How does Crosley use the burglary as a narrative entry point for exploring grief? In what ways does the burglary function as more than a literal event, and how does it allow Crosley to engage indirectly with her emotional response to Russell’s death?

Crosley uses the burglary as a narrative entry point to explore grief by framing the theft of the jewelry as a catalyst for her emotional journey. The burglary functions symbolically, representing the sudden and invasive nature of loss. It allows Crosley to engage indirectly with her grief for Russell by focusing on the stolen objects tied to their relationship, displacing the pain of his death onto the quest to recover the jewelry. This indirect approach creates space for reflection, humor, and complexity, showing how material loss can mirror and deepen the experience of mourning a loved one.

To what extent does the memoir invite the reader to question the distinction between emotional and material loss? How is the loss of jewelry allowed to stand in for emotional loss, and does the text critique or reinforce the idea that grief should be reserved “for people, not things”?