March 24th, 2007- I sat in my office, blaring music and talking to a fellow Army wife on IM. Wearing my pajamas, which consisted of Michael’s basic training sweatshirt, I swirled around on my wooden office chair with the sun creeping through the blinds. Underneath the rumble of music I hear something…another noise that I soon decipher as a phone…
Widowed Suddenly
you were mine
You were mine.I am yours.Until this body,marked by the love you laid upon it,In every fold,The softened belly,Stretched skin,Withers,and in this frailtyFalls and follows you.Only then,no longer will I be…yours.It will be past.But with you,In you,Through you,I’ll be.I’ll wait.A shadow.Your shadow.I’ll trail behind you.A dark ribbon.But you…
certificate
spent the evening talking to someone in the same predicament. sometime during the call i felt this incredible guilt,realizing that i had driven past the city where liz’s remains are housed when i drove to/from my cabin the tuesday of my fishing trip. can’t believe i didn’t think about this as i drove past the town. what an asshole. how…
Is It Worth the Effort?
I am in a relationship. It’s been about 5 months now and it’s mostly going great. Mostly. I am finding that having a relationship while still grieving for what I do not have is very, very difficult. Of course it’s difficult to blend the children. Some of mine are making it WAY difficult. His (he has been a widower for over 8 years) have been great.
It’s Track Season Again
I always associate the first blooming flowers of Spring with the start of track season. Phil lived for track season in the same way some people live for football season. He attended every live track meet within driving distance of our house(mind you this takes all day), watched professional meets on TV, knew the names and times of world record…
Happiness- Provided by Me
“I define comfort as self-acceptance. When we finally learn that self-care begins and ends with ourselves, we no longer demand sustenance and happiness from others.” -Jennifer Louden Let me just say how much I love this quote. I really should print it on cards and hand it out to those who make the snide remarks that I will not be able to be…
A Thought For The Day
“Life is filled with both love and loss, but love is always stronger.” ~unknown…
those little things
It’s the ‘little things’ can that drive you mad or madly in love. The way his jaw clicks when he chews. Or the way he tucks your hair behind you ear as he assures you that it will be okay. The way he feels compelled to tell you how to solve a problem when you’re venting. Or the way he stares at you from across the room with a smile touching his…
doctor visit
it was time to go to take my perfect child to the doctor. that perfect child started screaming as soon as i put her carseat into the base.tried to give her the pacifier while driving (exceedingly difficult while driving a car with manual transmission). that didn’t work. tried holding her hand. that didn’t work. tried rubbing her cheek.
It Should Have Been Me …..
I hesitated quite a while before I wrote this post. I don’t know why …. I know without a doubt that you “get it”. Actually I do know why. It’s because I don’t want anyone to read this as a “poor me” post, or as an attempt to get sympathy. It’s not that. It’s just …. reality. And I’m ok with it.It should have been me. How many times have you…
In Awe
I have experienced using the word death, or the word grief, or the word widow and having people physically step away from me. I have been told that since I am young the death of my husband isn’t as large a tragedy as it might be if I were older, since I am sure to remarry. I have been asked whether or not I am “over” my husband. People have looked…
Guilt
I wanted to touch base on guilt, as I believe it has played a role in my grief with Michael’s loss. The guilt that he died and I lived. The guilt of the things he never got to experience that I now have been. The guilt of having eyes to still see this world’s beauty and ears to hear its melodies. The guilt of knowing that he would have handled this…