Michele posted earlier on her FB page about the idea of giving ourselves grace and also giving this post-loss version of ourselves credit for all that we do. So today Im giving myself grace and forgiveness that Im hours late writing this, that Im totally exhausted, and that I dont much feel like “widow-ing” today. […]
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You Can’t Take It With You
On Tuesday, I was up and out of bed earlier than usual. Raising a shade and looking out a window, I saw that it was not yet fully light outside. I was preparing coffee when I heard a soft knocking at my back door, which startled me. Because of the early hour, I asked suspiciously, […]
Tampa Bound
This Thursday, I will be flying from Boston to Tampa, Florida (fingers crossed) for one of my favorite events to both attend and present at: Camp Widow. The last Camp Widow in Tampa was back in 2019. Then, about two years ago this week, the pandemic began, and it slowly became obvious that we would […]
Our Stories
I eagerly read the weekly postings of my fellow authors on this site. In the past week, for example, one writer bid a hopeful adieu to her readers, announcing that she is ready to resume living forward; meanwhile, another writer declared he is going to bid adieu to feelings of personal guilt associated with the […]
Are Signs Real? Who Cares!
In the past decade of years that I’ve “put in” as a widowed person, one thing I have noticed time and again is the endless debate about seeing “signs” from our loved ones who have died. There are so many theories about this, and so many opinions, and those in the widowed community that I […]
The Kitchen Sink
As you may recall, when we left off I was completing the last-minute preparations for my departure to sunnier, warmer climes for a hard-earned, albeit too brief, holiday. Although I was intending to regale you with stories from the West Coast and the beautiful island of Kauai, instead I restart with this account of my […]
Winds of Change – Part of living
I originally wrote this blog five years ago on February12, 2018 to be exact. If you have followed my writing, reading this, you will recognize the evolution of grief. Over the years, the content of my writing has changed along with the tone of my grief. This blog highlights how grief can change with time.
As always, I hope my blog helps; and I think those who are just beginning down the path of grief will especially relate to the words I wrote so long ago.
The Vacuum
When I was first widowed back in July of 2011, and for a long time after, lots and lots of people suggested writing as a coping tool for the grief. People said to write down all my thoughts, my emotions, all of it. Some people suggested writing letters or notes to Don himself, to continue […]
Gas Station Flowers
Although its been over 10 years since the sudden death of Don Shepherd, and although most times Im more than okay these days, there are moments where the guilt and regret of things past starts to overwhelm me. I know its silly and I know that I shouldnt waste my time torturing myself with these […]
Happy Trails
Socks. Check! Clean underwear. Check! Toothbrush. Check! Covid vaccination card. Check! I am looking over my king size bed, which at this moment is completely covered by a wide assortment of travel items, ranging from my telescoping hiking stick to extra eyeglasses. I spot health-related items, toiletries, a bright red headband, gym shorts, one custom […]
Holding Pattern broken
I wrote about feeling restless in year three and I am happy to say that this restlessness has disappeared for the most part now that I am in year five+ of this widowhood thing. Grief changes thankfully. I am no longer consumed by emptiness and sadness is not my baseline anymore. For me, life is […]
When Life Intervenes
With rare exceptions, between Thursdays, the day on which I publish here, I let my thoughts rattle around inside my skull, hoping to catch a topic for the coming week. It’s as much about luck as skill, I suppose, like one of those old fashion handheld ball bearing games where you attempt to roll a […]