I know I mentioned this after attending the Calgary Camp Widow, but this past weekend has once again truly emphasized the importance of  Finding Your Community.

Hands United

Together,

Threads of strength weave,

Voices rising in hope,

A tapestry of souls,

Bound in unity.

(Tiny Poetry/Community Poems)

I spent three days surrounded by some wonderful widowed friends. Some I only knew from our online Zoom conversations during Covid, so this was my first in-person time with them; some I had met previously at Camp Widow events; and even a couple of friends from my old Las Vegas regional group were there because they were IN the wedding (surprise!). Conversations at the hotel covered all sorts of topics and gave each of us the opportunity to share our own stories – issues with stepfamilies, new loves, travels, plans to move or not to move. It was so very lovely. The bridal couple are both widowed and they incorporated their missing persons so beautifully into the ceremony … and actually into the entire evening. It was a really memorable evening. And quite a bit of fun, too!

Hugs and whispered words of ‘you changed my life’ will forever remain in my heart. Who would have guessed that just providing a way for people who lost their person during Covid to connect and talk with one another on the Zoom platform would result in lasting friendships and hope for a future they would enjoy. And when the format changed and it was reduced to just once a week, they decided to form their own Saturday Zoom Group, which has continued to this day … and is the one I’ve recently joined. Many of them have visited one another, traveled together, kept in close touch during these past six years.

Now I do know that I need to expand my friendship horizon beyond the widowed community and I’m doing a bit of that this coming week.

• I’m having lunch with a group of my neighbor ladies – some I’ve met, some will be new.
• My friends who spend summers at their lake house in Indiana have returned, so we’ll be getting back to our weekly Friday night dinners.
• I have that community Bunco fundraiser event this week, too.
• And I do have a couple of former co-workers I’ll be having lunch with soon.

Adding those things on top of that very full widow wedding weekend is a whole lot of ‘people-ing’ for me in one week … and I’ll admit that I’m starting to feel I may want to back out of that community event since I will know NO ONE there. I’m reminded, however, how good it was to have a voice this weekend that someone responded to. I think that’s something many widowed people experience. I spend so much time alone. I talk to Sheila. I talk to Vern. I talk to Jim. But none of them are able to respond. Having an actual conversation with another person is valuable – and needed. So I’m going to do my best to head on over to that Bunco event. Perhaps I’ll meet some new friends there …. or maybe just have a bit of fun.

Oh – and Sheila did just fine with her boarding experience. They sent me a photo and text each evening which made me feel better – and her welcome when I picked her up yesterday was wonderful. We’re both catching up on our weekend experiences with a bit of napping today.