Skip to content

The Writing Widow

AKA "The Writing Woman"

  • Home
  • About Me
  • About the Blog
  • About Rick
    • My Eulogy for Rick
    • Rick’s Obit
  • The Anniversary Gift – a Memoir

Tag: grief

grief journey
October 15, 2022

The Pink Pool Noodle – October 2022 Hope for Widows post

The fuchsia-pink pool noodle Rick bought me is starting to decompose around the edges. The memories of that last vacation we shared are starting to fade around the edges, too.

How can a pool noodle come to mean so much to me? How does it symbolize our love? Or his personality? Or how much he cared for me?

Can I … Read the blog

grief journey
August 13, 2022

Still Picking Up the Pieces – Latest blog on the Hope for Widows website

Five years ago today, I held Rick’s hand in a death grip. A literal death grip, for hour upon hour. By noon of that day, I realized he was going to die, and he did, at 8pm that night.

The night before, alone in my bed, I had an odd feeling. A scary feeling. A feeling like my life was … Read the blog

February 28, 2020

Three Years Ago Today – Latest blog on the Hope for Widows site

My friend Jo sent me a Facebook memory. Three years ago today, I was with Rick on the Florida gulf. We were sitting with Jo watching a gorgeous sunset in Rick’s favorite spot on Madeira Beach. I sat staring at the photo, unable to remember exactly how I felt that evening. Despite the beauty of the sunset, I know I … Read the blog

grief journey
November 30, 2019

Seeing the Light – Hope for Widows blog

The overhead lights in the hallway started flickering again a couple of weeks ago. This hasn’t happened in a while, not a long while. When Rick first died, the ceiling lights in the kitchen started to flicker one night. I was washing dishes and could see them flickering out of the corner of my eye, but, oddly, when I looked … Read the blog

grief journey
November 7, 2019

Happy Birthday to Me – New Post on the Hope for Widows Blog

So often now, in the midst of happiness, I’ll feel this gloom settle over me. I know right away that it’s not a “random” sadness; it’s definitely Rick-related. I feel those tears just below the surface, a very mild form of the horrible grief I had shortly after losing him, but it builds every day and it starts to intrude … Read the blog

October 16, 2019

First Loves and Last Goodbyes – a Poem

I heard the news, and then I cried
A boy I used to love has died
We were just teens the night we met
No boy had ever kissed me yet

So long ago and far away
He smiled at me and made my day
He held my hand, he kissed my face
I followed him most any place

His … Read the blog

grief journey
August 11, 2019

A Fine Cry – A Poem

The second anniversary of Rick’s death is Tuesday. In some ways, I can’t believe it’s been two years. In others, it feels like he’s been gone for ages. My life has changed so much since he was here, including finally acknowledging that I’m single again. Dating other men is surreal. How can this be? I was supposed to be with … Read the blog

grief poetry
July 13, 2019

Still Waiting

Sitting poolside
On this hot July day
Basking in the sun,
Eyes closed against the strong rays

Two years here alone
Two summers without you
A lifetime between then and now
But I find I’m…

Still waiting

Still waiting to hear the back door slam
You, back from your bicycle ride

Still waiting to feel your shadow cross my face… Read the blog

grief journey
July 11, 2019

Until Death Do Us Part – Hope4Widows

Rick and I were married on July 12, 1997. He died one month after our twentieth anniversary. This Friday will mark the second time I’ve spent our anniversary alone. In a way, it’s almost the third time, because on our last anniversary together in 2017, he was pretty sick and often mentally confused, so our special day wasn’t so special. … Read the blog

grief-journey
July 7, 2019

Match Dot Com

I had a quiet four and a half hour driving trip back from the family cottage yesterday. Four and a half long hours to think about where my life is and where it’s going. As someone who’s been known to overthink things, that’s way too much time on my hands. But it was a lovely trip and it turns out … Read the blog

Posts navigation

1 2 … 9 Next

“A Widow’s Words” Available on Amazon.com

“I Wanted to Grow Old With You” Color Version Paperback Available on Barnes and Noble

“I Wanted to Grow Old With You” Available on Amazon (Paperback and eBook)

Year Two

grief year two

The Cure

the cure a poem about cancer and grief

I Wanted to Grow Old With You

Grief and Loss of Hope

If I Could Have You Back for One Day

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Leaving the Past Behind – Hope for Widows Blog January 16, 2023
  • The Golden Years – a Poem on the Hope for Widows website November 18, 2022
  • Autumn Leaves, 2022 October 22, 2022
  • The Pink Pool Noodle – October 2022 Hope for Widows post October 15, 2022
  • Rick Roy August 22, 2022
  • Still Picking Up the Pieces – Latest blog on the Hope for Widows website August 13, 2022

Rick and Gerry – 2016

Rick and Jonas

https://youtu.be/aveVSwyBjaY

Rick and Danielle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvgjw4nXEFY

Rick singing Elvis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc0gZSV9jnA

Menu

  • Home
  • About Me
  • About the Blog
  • About Rick
    • My Eulogy for Rick
    • Rick’s Obit
  • The Anniversary Gift – a Memoir

I'm a guest contributor on the Hope for Widows Foundation website blog. This organization is a wonderful resource for those of us who are striving to continue to find hope after losing our husbands. Hope for Widows Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, opens the door to a new world for widows, ensuring they do not go through their experience alone, but with life-long connections and lasting support. Visit their website or Facebook page. Their private Facebook group is filled with loving, supportive fellow widows who have provided much love and encouragement to me since joining the group a week after Rick's death. I encourage you to join.

Copyright ©2018 Katherine Billings Palmer and thewritingwidow.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Katherine Billings Palmer and thewritingwidow.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Copyright The Writing Widow. All rights reserved. | Powered by WordPress & Writers Blogily Theme