Becoming a Widow.

It is hard to watch a friend become a widow.

My journey to widowhood took about 30 minutes.

Hers has taken 17 months.

Different processing times. Same awful end result.

The life you thought you had in front of you is over.

You must figure out how to walk on without your husband, your partner, your best friend.

You must care for three children, assume all household responsibilities and vehicle maintenance, cover all the meals and shopping, manage school and sports scheduling on your own. If you thought you coordinated things before, this is a whole new level.

I’m not sure what the appropriate age is to become a widow.

If people threw out numbers, what would they say? 75? 80? 92?

All would agree 41 and 44 are too young.

While we have lived the pain of loss early, it unfortunately, comes for us all.

Whatever naïve beliefs we held as young people –

That marriages are long, death is for the elderly, we have lots of time – have been cruelly unveiled to us as lies.

We are not promised longevity.
We do not get to enjoy decades with certain people.
We do not know who will leave us when.

Love your people well.