I’ve been excited about my latest adventure. The local library invited me to have a table with my books at their annual local author fair. I’ve never done it before – never even considered it, mostly because I never considered myself an author. I know I’m a writer. I know I’ve published books, but I guess it’s “imposter syndrome,” because … Read the blog
Tag: Hope for Widows
That Dreaded Time of Year – Hope for Widows blog for August 2024
It’s that time, again. The ten-day period between the anniversary of Rick’s death and his birthday, the day we held his celebration of life. August 13th to August 23rd, 2017: the most painful time of my life.
After seven years, it doesn’t hit as hard. Well, at least that’s what I thought. But I realized that all last week I … Read the blog
Kisses That Last a Lifetime
July 12th would have been our twenty-seventh wedding anniversary. In the seven years since Rick died, I’ve gone through many different stages of grief, and I’m a different woman than that distraught widow from years ago. Instead of sadness over his death, I more often look back feeling thankful for experiencing our life together. Instead of constant grief triggers that … Read the blog
Disconnected – June 2024, Hope for Widows blog
I reported for jury duty a couple weeks ago. It’s probably my tenth time in the past 45 years since I was first summoned in my early twenties. However, this was the first time I’ve served that we were allowed to bring cell phones into the courthouse. Quite a perk!
Other years, I was in no-contact status with the world … Read the blog
The Lost Piece – Hope for Widows blog for April 2024
THE LOST PIECE
When a soul mate dies
It leaves a hole with a ragged edge
An empty space, too difficult to patch
Although I try to find another piece that fits,
The shape is never quite right
And the hole remains empty
Sometimes, I set the puzzle aside
And pretend my life is complete
Without that missing piece
The … Read the blog
What I Miss – Hope for Widows Blog for March 2024
Life is normal now. I’m me, and I’m alone, and it’s okay.
And then, suddenly, it’s not.
When things are going well, I enjoy my life alone so much that I barely want to date. I have no desire to find the next companion, partner, potential mate. I’ve come to terms with life on my own. I’ve actually done better … Read the blog
Your Surviving Heart – December blog posted on the Hope for Widows website
As I sit here, reflecting on the year that has passed, I realized how alone I feel. Sure, I have lots of loved ones in my life – and many, many people I can count on to be there for me, so I’m not lonely at all. But I’ve never felt this alone. I think it’s all the holiday cheer … Read the blog
Accepting the Unacceptable – Hope for Widows November 2023 blog
For a couple years after my husband died, grief completely overtook my life. I was in a pain-filled fog. I thought about him around the clock. There were memories of his loss everywhere – in my home, my life, my routines, my habits, my comings and goings. Every store we shopped in, every street we drove down together, every restaurant … Read the blog
The Love of a Lifetime – Hope for Widows Blog
As the sixth anniversary of Rick’s death approaches, I realize I’ve had many shifts in my attitude about how I view my life here alone. For about the first two years, my whole identity was that of a widow. I was still part of a couple, one of us just wasn’t living. I continued to participate with most of the … Read the blog
Videos and Memories – May 2023 Blog on Hope for Widows Website
I came across videos of a trip Rick and I took 14 years ago this month. He knew going to Cornwall to explore the land of my ancestors had been a life-long dream and we spent five glorious days in England. We then met up with my son and his wife to explore several other countries in Europe. It was … Read the blog