Ch.179 I Still Cannot Separate “Alone” from “Lonely” Dec. 2022             Pat passed away on July 1, 2022. That means her six-month anniversary will be New Year’s Read more

Ch.178 First Christmas Without Pat December 26, 2022             Today is the day after Christmas, but many stores will be closed since Christmas fell on a Sunday Read more

Ch.177 The Universality of Grief Dec. 2022             I attended a program on grief recently during which RoseAnn, a group facilitator, read a beautiful passage that emphasized Read more

Ch.176 Walking to the Creek to Talk with Pat Nov. 2022             Today is the day after Thanksgiving. I’ve heard many warnings that the first holiday season Read more

Ch.175 Remembering Pat During the Holiday Season Nov.24, 2022          I’m writing this chapter on Thanksgiving Day, between visits from first Cindy and then Joshua and Jenny. I’ve heard Read more

Ch.174 Reading “Still Alice.” Nov.2022            “Well, this could be interesting,” I thought, as I read an announcement for a “tough book” book club that meets monthly at Read more

Ch.173 Pat’s Last Gift Nov. 2022            “Ron, you’re doing better than I thought.” I’d just spent several hours with Jackie, a friend whom I hadn’t seen or talked Read more

Ch.172  Looking Ahead to an Uncertain Future Oct.2022           “Not me! I’m never going through this again!”           I was speaking with a group of Read more

Ch.171 A Rainbow Appears Just When I Need It Oct. 2022           If nights are the loneliest times for a widower, then weekends come in a close second. Read more

Ch.170 Empathy for A Couple Dealing with Dementia Oct.2022           Pat had only recently been diagnosed with Lewy Body when we happened upon a former colleague of ours, Read more

Ch.169 Ron Begins to Recover his Sense of Humor           Sept.30, 2022           Nicole, the Director at Azura Memory Care, asked me to be Read more

Ch.168 Chasing After My Horse and Wondering About My Future            Sept. 24, 2022           6:30 a.m. I’m waking up in my bed. I Read more

Ch.167 Good Signs I am Returning to Life  Sept.21, 2022           I have been feeling lately that I am gradually emerging from the fog created by death and Read more

Ch.166 Ron Goes to a Quilting Show with a Friend and with Pat Sept. 7-8, 2022           Several years ago, Pat and I travelled to Madison, WI just Read more

Ch.165 I Visit Pat’s Grave on Her Birthday Sept.1 and 2, 2022           Pat would have been 78 years old on Sept.1, exactly two months after her death Read more

Ch.164 Happy Memories Don’t have to Make Me Sad   August 29, 2022           There are several ways I can drive the 100 miles to my daughter Cindy’s home Read more

163 A Good Sign: I Realize I Am Not Alone in Grieving August 21, 2022 My twin brother Don flew in from Canada last week to spend time with me. Don hadn’t Read more

Ch.162 I Watch a Loving Couple Holding Hands – and I Remember Aug 11, 2022. About two years ago my son Joshua and his wife Patty asked us if they could make Read more

Ch.161 A Fisherman Named Grief Reels Me In           August 6, 2022 Showering has become a dangerous time for me. This morning, as has occurred frequently, I was Read more

Ch.160 Now What Will Give Meaning to My Life?  August 5, 2022 I wrote in a previous essay about my fear of boredom, of having to find things to replace the roughly Read more