A Year Ago Today

Five Seasons

Here we go again into another season without my Max. The grieving process is different for each individual, and for me, the first year is brutal with experiencing the change of seasons without him.

The Battle

Welcome folks. It’s been a while since I posted something, and I’ve had some deep thoughts I want to share.So much has been happening in our society in 2020, and reports everywhere make it sound like the sky is falling. It’s difficult to decipher what is true and what is false. Is this more “chicken little” paranoia, or are we really getting toppled by the falling sky?

Why is it that some people feel they can control everything? From celebrities defying the aging process, to the weather, to a virus, to human behavior—at times it seems like certain folks think they can cheat death itself. Why do they believe they can bend everything to their will?

Take a Pill

Last week I posted about how a couple of people have tried to rush me to get a new pet after saying goodbye to my beloved dog, Max. Today I’d like to discuss a topic that is related, but more about processing emotions in general.

You might say that those people think they’re trying to help by offering a new pet to stop me from hurting. That may be true, but in many cases, I think this goes even deeper.

Why does much of society think they can obliterate bad times altogether for humanity?

Find Someone Else

If you knew someone who lost their spouse just a few weeks ago, would you say, “I know it’s hard, but there are other men/women out there looking for love. Get on eharmony and find one who needs you?”

Distractions

Have you ever needed a distraction . . . a task or entertainment to get your mind off of something?

Raw

Five Stages. Denial.  Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance.

Gifts to Humanity

A strange thing happened when we went to the cemetery. My loved one wasn’t even buried there, but I found comfort.

I don’t go to cemeteries to visit any lost loved ones, so I was surprised at the comfort that poured over me.

Resistance is Futile

Warning: loving a dog can lead to a broken heart.

Would I have adopted my first dog had I been warned? Probably. I didn’t get my first dog until I was thirty-five years old. Before then, I had no idea about the enormous bond that occurs between human and dog. Of course, I had heard about it, but hearing about it from others is trite in comparison to the experience. Not to mention, loving anyone is a risk usually worth taking.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that loving any pet (cat, rabbit, bird, etc) can lead to a broken heart. I’m focusing on dogs right now, because my heart is broken from loving a dog who left this earth just three short weeks ago.

My boy Max

Before and After

Before
(Written January 16, 2019)

We Said Goodbye

We said our final goodbyes to Max last night, January 8, 2020 around 6pm. I have no energy in me to write much else at the moment. I wrote the following while he was sick but still with us. Thank you for honoring our sweet boy by reading it. I may be scarce for a little while.

Happy Horrible Holidays

Good Day everyone. I hope this finds you in a bright, lovely start to the new year.

I had looked forward to publishing the many blog drafts I’ve had in my queue, but of course, God laughed at me for making plans.

A Decade that Hurts

On May 24, 2019, I received a notification that it was my tenth anniversary with WordPress.

But, hold on.

I have not been blogging for ten years. I’ve been blogging for seven and a half years.

So, why did I get a ten year anniversary notification?

Memories Fade – A Tribute

 

Piezon (Paesano in Italian, means friend)

The years keep ticking by. As of tomorrow, it’ll be nine of them since he left this world.

Memories fade. I hate that.

Live for the Journey

Every year on this date, it’s a must for me to remember this lovable furry guy in the photo. Piezon changed my life and was my everything for eleven and a half years. He had such a palpable spirit and filled up the missing spaces in my life back then (he came to me in place of the children I couldn’t have). He brought along with him a lot of positive spiritual energy that manifested in so many forms. When he died, all that spirit energy seemed to go with him.

Family Transitions

The house where I grew up.

My mom has only lived in two places since I was born … the house I was raised in, and the house she moved to after I left the nest.

Through the Eyes of . . .

Do you see through your own eyes?

Fun With Q’s

Sorry, this isn’t Sheldon Cooper’s “Fun with Flags,” but the following game is better.

I’ve been dealing with a lot of heavy life issues these days, and it’s difficult to come up with light material for the blog. My theme here is to dig deep into the human psyche, but also add a little humor. I’m struggling with the latter right now, as I grieve loved ones.

So, I saw this list of fun questions on facebook and thought I’d play around with them on my blog. It’s the lighter side and a nice break from my heavier last few posts about loss.

I’d love for people to join in. If you’d like, copy them and answer on your blog, or pick your favorite question on this list and answer in the comment section. I’d love to learn more about my blogging friends.

Stages

My head is spinning from the whirlwind that has been my life since the 4th of July. We still have about a dozen boxes to unpack in our new home, plus need to hang pictures and decorate. There will be more updating to the house as well, but at least the major fixes are done for a few years.

In the mean time, I find myself experiencing the stages of grief over losing my mother-in-law three weeks ago.

Take My Problems Back

I’ve been somewhat absent from the blogging world lately, because my husband and I have been going through some tough times.