So, dear followers, it is actually time to get this show on the road. It has been nearly five months since I lost my very dear one, and I have managed to be in a little cocoon, thanks to my friend, Eileen.
Now, it is time to get on with my actual life. So, tomorrow morning, around 7:00 a.m, Gina and I will leave for Sarasota to visit our friends, Lynn and Al (whom I have known since high school). Luckily, we are going to see another couple from high school there, too. Actually, I have only known Sue since high school, but I have known John since jr. high. When we had what was called "senior week", Sue had a date already for the night that was officially Sadie Hawkens night, so I went with John because my senior week date also already had a date for that night. Anyway, a good time was certainly had by all.
This is a very exciting and, at the same time, scary time for me. The adventure is such an exciting thought, but the thought of continuing without Mike is also quite scary. However, I have decided that Gina and I will venture out and see what the great unknown has in store for us, and you can be sure we will let you know.
Talk to you soon. Thanks for following. Ricci
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Return from California and Prepare for Takeoff!
Well, we have returned from California! The weather was nearly perfect, the golf course was great; however, my game still sucks! I just know Mike has cursed it!
Seriously, the weather was beautiful, and I am so lucky to have a friend who would provide me with such a nice vacation. Eileen was great, but, the whole thing was just different (this was our third time) when there was not Mike to come home to. The nights were actually much more difficult in California. I guess when I was still in our home, there was great comfort sleeping where he slept. Now, though, I guess I really have to face the fact that he is not returning. Sometimes it takes a while for me to catch up with my emotions because it is much harder now than just after he died. Another stage to go through, I suppose. Gina seems to be much calmer being away from the townhouse - maybe I'll get there, too!
Right now I am making my actual exit plan. This means having the car serviced (Monday), repacking my clothes (some for Florida, some for North Carolina and something for Ohio at Christmas!). Ohio will really be a shock - it will be so cold.
The preliminary schedule is Sarasota the first week in November; Parish the first weekend in November, then on to North Carolina thru Thanksgiving, with the exception of a long weekend in Virginia Beach. Ohio in December and I will fill you in as the schedule gets more secure.
Just to give you a little useful information - on the way out to California I read "Star Island", which received and really good review and was supposed to be "laugh-out-loud" funny. Perhaps my sense of humor has taken a vacation, but I don't see any humor in a book that promotes the terrible use of people. It appears to me that this story was taken directly out of the life of LiLo, and there is nothing funny about her poor little life! So, don't waste your time or money! (How's that? Bet you didn't think you were going to get a book review along with everything else!)
Naturally, I will fill you in on the trip as we go. Thanks for tuning in. Ricci
Seriously, the weather was beautiful, and I am so lucky to have a friend who would provide me with such a nice vacation. Eileen was great, but, the whole thing was just different (this was our third time) when there was not Mike to come home to. The nights were actually much more difficult in California. I guess when I was still in our home, there was great comfort sleeping where he slept. Now, though, I guess I really have to face the fact that he is not returning. Sometimes it takes a while for me to catch up with my emotions because it is much harder now than just after he died. Another stage to go through, I suppose. Gina seems to be much calmer being away from the townhouse - maybe I'll get there, too!
Right now I am making my actual exit plan. This means having the car serviced (Monday), repacking my clothes (some for Florida, some for North Carolina and something for Ohio at Christmas!). Ohio will really be a shock - it will be so cold.
The preliminary schedule is Sarasota the first week in November; Parish the first weekend in November, then on to North Carolina thru Thanksgiving, with the exception of a long weekend in Virginia Beach. Ohio in December and I will fill you in as the schedule gets more secure.
Just to give you a little useful information - on the way out to California I read "Star Island", which received and really good review and was supposed to be "laugh-out-loud" funny. Perhaps my sense of humor has taken a vacation, but I don't see any humor in a book that promotes the terrible use of people. It appears to me that this story was taken directly out of the life of LiLo, and there is nothing funny about her poor little life! So, don't waste your time or money! (How's that? Bet you didn't think you were going to get a book review along with everything else!)
Naturally, I will fill you in on the trip as we go. Thanks for tuning in. Ricci
Friday, October 15, 2010
Countdown
Tomorrow, my friend, Eileen, is taking me to Palm Desert, California for a week of golf and fun in the sun. (Hopefully, it will be fun, because I have not hit a decent shot since Mike died! Sometimes I am certain that he has cursed me from the Great Beyond because he is unable to fish anymore!!)
Although I miss living with him so much, it has been a great relief to be out of the townhouse. It must also be a great relief for Gina, as she is much, much calmer! Certainly, being with Eileen's Yorkie, Rusty, has been a great comfort. She has known Rusty since she was five weeks old - because Eileen bought Gina as a present for Mike!
So, we will return on Oct.. 23rd, and I will organize everything (which means, of course, putting more clothes in the storage unit - which, by now, is exactly like Fibber McGee's closet!!) and say goodbye to some very, very good friends!
Sunday, our friends from Briar Patch, are having a nice little dinner for me to wish me well in my travels. They have been wonderful friends (and, no, Bre'r Rabbit won't be there!) and performed absolute miracles when Mike died to pull everything together for a memorial!
There will be other sad farewells and a difficult goodbye, of course, to my friend, Eileen, who has been a wonderful source of support. She has opened her heart and her home to Gina and me and it will be hard to say good bye. However, in order to find Ricci,, I must move on.
So, friends, thanks so much for tuning in and I know if he could, Mike would thank you, too - he was just that kind of guy. Ricci
Although I miss living with him so much, it has been a great relief to be out of the townhouse. It must also be a great relief for Gina, as she is much, much calmer! Certainly, being with Eileen's Yorkie, Rusty, has been a great comfort. She has known Rusty since she was five weeks old - because Eileen bought Gina as a present for Mike!
So, we will return on Oct.. 23rd, and I will organize everything (which means, of course, putting more clothes in the storage unit - which, by now, is exactly like Fibber McGee's closet!!) and say goodbye to some very, very good friends!
Sunday, our friends from Briar Patch, are having a nice little dinner for me to wish me well in my travels. They have been wonderful friends (and, no, Bre'r Rabbit won't be there!) and performed absolute miracles when Mike died to pull everything together for a memorial!
There will be other sad farewells and a difficult goodbye, of course, to my friend, Eileen, who has been a wonderful source of support. She has opened her heart and her home to Gina and me and it will be hard to say good bye. However, in order to find Ricci,, I must move on.
So, friends, thanks so much for tuning in and I know if he could, Mike would thank you, too - he was just that kind of guy. Ricci
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The End Of A Chapter _ A Really GOOD Chapter!!
Tomorrow will be four months and it seems impossible! Last Thursday, I finally left the townhouse for good. It was the saddest day of my life because it was like closing the casket! It was the last place we lived and when I closed the door that 27 year chapter was actually over.
The only thing that made it at all bearable was that I had to restore the walls to the boring builder white, so when I left, it didn't look like we had lived there! My younger son, his girfriend and her two charming children came to help paint and make the transition a little easier. And, well they did! You know, I have thought this for years, but the last four months have proven me correct - I have to really great sons!! In addition, one's girlfriend and the other's wife have been equally supportive!!
So, we are 24 days from starting the great road trip!! A week from Saturday, my friend, Eileen, and I are going to California for a week to play golf - a trip that was scheduled and set up last year. Cancelling it seemed like a good idea for a long time, but I think it will really be a good thing!
Now, since this is my life, there is always humor!! Before I went to Ohio for my reunion, I decided to move my wedding ring to my right hand. However, it was a little difficult to get on due to the fact that I had jammed that finger and the knuckle was a little bigger. Since I managed to get it on, though, I was certain I would be able to remove it. Nope!! The reunion was in June, and I had the ring cut off my finger this Monday (October 4)! The poor jeweler was having fits because the band was 1/2" wide and the cutter is made for the little, narrow bands! It took about 30 minutes, - and a lot of Windex when it got hot, but he was successful, widened the band and saved me from a certain case of gangreen!!!
While cleaning, packing, sorting and painting, I was so busy, it was probably very good for my brain! Now, however, I am out of diversions, and have found myself to be very, very angry!! However, I am working my way through it the best that I can, and am looking forward to the adventure with Gina.
For now, though, thanks so much for following and I will post you again when we actually start on the "road"!! Ricci
The only thing that made it at all bearable was that I had to restore the walls to the boring builder white, so when I left, it didn't look like we had lived there! My younger son, his girfriend and her two charming children came to help paint and make the transition a little easier. And, well they did! You know, I have thought this for years, but the last four months have proven me correct - I have to really great sons!! In addition, one's girlfriend and the other's wife have been equally supportive!!
So, we are 24 days from starting the great road trip!! A week from Saturday, my friend, Eileen, and I are going to California for a week to play golf - a trip that was scheduled and set up last year. Cancelling it seemed like a good idea for a long time, but I think it will really be a good thing!
Now, since this is my life, there is always humor!! Before I went to Ohio for my reunion, I decided to move my wedding ring to my right hand. However, it was a little difficult to get on due to the fact that I had jammed that finger and the knuckle was a little bigger. Since I managed to get it on, though, I was certain I would be able to remove it. Nope!! The reunion was in June, and I had the ring cut off my finger this Monday (October 4)! The poor jeweler was having fits because the band was 1/2" wide and the cutter is made for the little, narrow bands! It took about 30 minutes, - and a lot of Windex when it got hot, but he was successful, widened the band and saved me from a certain case of gangreen!!!
While cleaning, packing, sorting and painting, I was so busy, it was probably very good for my brain! Now, however, I am out of diversions, and have found myself to be very, very angry!! However, I am working my way through it the best that I can, and am looking forward to the adventure with Gina.
For now, though, thanks so much for following and I will post you again when we actually start on the "road"!! Ricci
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