To Rick: I Wanted to Grow Old With You
I wanted to grow old with you, but fate had other plans.
I vowed to love you until death as we stood holding hands.
We pledged to be together until our lives were through.
I thought we’d spend the golden years ahead, just me and you.
I know you’d be here if you could, you tried so hard to live.
You struggled to rise every day, gave all you had to give.
If love alone could save you, you’d still be here with me.
If love alone could bring you back, how lovely life would be.
But no one lives forever, so I go on alone.
I’m finding my “new normal,” attempting to move on.
The silence now is deafening, the empty bed brings tears
I dream of you most every night; I hope I will for years.
I look for signs that you’re around, perhaps I’ve gone insane
But I miss you so desperately, I’ll grasp at anything.
Our memories are all I have; I guess they’ll have to do.
I’m thankful for the years we had; so grateful I found you.
I know that I am fortunate, that some will never know
A love like ours, the joy we shared, before you had to go.
I miss your touch, your gentleness, your laughter, and your care
And now the pain at what I’ve lost is more than I can bear.
Our vows still echo in my head from on our special day
Our wedding song exactly voiced the words we longed to say…
You sang, “Grow old along with me,”
You said the best was yet to be.
We vowed til death that we’d be true
I wanted to grow old with you.
Tomorrow is my Late Wifes 3rd Anniversary. She manages to still take my breath away, sadness, joy, day, night. I empathize with you.
This will be the 1st Wedding anniversary since my husband passed in January.
Tomorrow the 11th March 2024 will be the 6th anniversary of my wife Jo passing away with cancer aged just 58 after a fabulous 30 years together. Oh how I miss her, my wife, mate, friend, drinking partner and a great companion on our many holidays together.
Tomorrow is also the day just 6 months after I lost Jo when I too was diagnosed with this dreadful disease and in my case I also ended up with chronic heart disease and have to have open heart surgery by the end of March.
Life seems so unfair at times and I wonder how many like myself manage to keep positive and carry on?
Bless all those suffering as I have.
My husband if 38 years left this Earth on May 14,2021.
I had a day today where I feel drugged. I don’t drink or do drugs but I can wake up but can’t stay awake. I know it grief will have its own way but….
I wasn’t finished with my life with him!@
My heart goes out to you. I felt that drugged state, too. In the early months after Rick died, I was moving around in a fog. Now that I look back, I’m not sure how I was functioning at all. Be good to yourself. Sleep all you need to. This is a major blow and you need to recover just like you would after major surgery. The fog won’t last forever, but I think it’s your brain’s way of protecting itself from the too-harsh reality of your loss. Take care, Katherine. ❤️
My love for 27 years joined our creator April 2021 and today marks our 28th year should she be still beside me.
I just want to let her know that I want to thank her for always staying at my side all the time til now. And she still captivates my heart when i think of her smile.
I am taking baby steps towards moving on as she wants me to live long enjoy life and love so when my time comes I can tell her stories of our grand children.
Tomorrow is my husband’s first heavenly birthday. I plan to read your poem. As we spread ashes and flower seeds in his favorite place.❤️
My husband has been gone for a year and a half. I miss him so much.
What’s the old saying, you don’t know what you’re got until it’s gone.
Married for 46 years introduced when I was 16. Best friends. We talked about everything. Love and miss him.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem
Thank you so much for posting this beautiful poem.
You have managed to get put down in words exactly how I feel but couldn’t
express myself.
Its my wife Nicolas third anniversary next week and I would like to use the hi lighted verse with her picture of her as a Facebook post . But I don’t know who to credit..
Stephen
Hi Stephen, Thank you. I didn’t see this post until now and I hope the response isn’t too late.
I’m honored that my poem expresses your feelings, and I’m sorry for your loss. You can credit me, Katherine Billings Palmer.
Thank you again for contacting me. Wishing you peace and comfort.
Katherine