Grieving is a strange beast. When tragedy struck, I never thought I would be able to live or breathe again. But like everything else, time went on. I eventually learned to live again. The most unexpected thing happened... I learned to even love again. A couple months ago and even bigger life event took place, I got married. I got. married! I am a wife again. Let me tell you how surreal it was. I walked down the aisle with my boys on either side of me holding my hands, my body trembled as I held my breath. I gazed down end of the aisle to my handsome groom. I swear I was floating. Was this really happening? A moment flashed in my mind. It was a cold cloudy day in November. I wore a long grey coat over my large pregnant belly. The cold wind blew across my face but I didn't feel its bite of winter. I looked out across the cemetery at my brother in law and my step sister placed in different spots around the grounds as I tried to figure out the best place to lay my late husband to rest. The baby moved in my belly and I thought to myself, "Well, that was fun. and I guess that's it." I thought I lived my life. I looked at my brother in law, walked over to him and decided the spot he was standing in was the one I wanted. My lifeless eyes looked at him as I asked him if the plot next to that one was available. He looked me in the eye and said "Kathryn, you're 30 years old. You don't need the one next to him."
"I don't want some random person next to him. "
"We can put it on hold, and if you still want it in 6 weeks then we will buy it." I looked down at the trampled down brown grass at my feet then back up into his eyes and sighed "Ok."
Needless to say when that 6 weeks was up we bought it anyway. I blinked back into reality. Here I was in a beautiful beaded wedding dress. The sun beat down on the top of my head. Smiling faces and beautiful music filled the open air. I licked my lips and took a deep breath. The boys left my side, taking their place as groomsmen next to my future husband. I turned and handed my flowers to my daughter who stood beside me. I turned back around and looked into Jason's smiling face. Holding my hands in his he gently squeezed as he said his vows. The sun warmed my body as I took my turn saying my vows. The minister announced us Husband and Wife. We did it. I did it. With God's help we had learned to live again, and love deeply.
Then why the heartache? I don't know. I will always miss him. I will always wish to see his face, and I will always want to step into his hug. I woke up this morning missing Pete. Just him. His smile, his hug. I stared out the window at the rain beating on the window pane and the kids muffled voices. I am happy and sad too. I guess Bittersweet is a better word for it. My eyes filled with tears as I wished for a phone to call Heaven. If he has to live there, at least let me talk to him occasionally. Or maybe we could face time. Maybe God, could just let me see his work in Heaven. Pete was always a man of God, as I have said in the past he knew he would leave this earth before me. He always said "What's there to be sad about, We will be with Jesus." So is it selfish to miss him?
My aunt and I were talking yesterday about my Grandmother who recently passed. We talked about the little signs that she left for us. Grandmother was always saving twisty ties, bread sacks, and rubber bands. Her little quirks are what we all have in our own homes. Twisty ties really do work for almost anything that's broken. My aunt told me about how she kept finding twisty ties in random places. It was like her way of saying she was still here with us. I told her about how Pete used to knock paper off the refrigerator. I would come out in the morning and there would be the kids artwork all over the floor. I would smile and know it was him. I know my grandmother is happy, I know Pete is happy, It's us left behind that misses them. So what does a Crazy Recovering Widow do with these emotions of being happy and grateful wrapped up in moments of sadness and missing an Angel husband doing God's work? I keep walking. I keep dreaming, I keep working at this crazy journey. But, I don't have to go it alone. I have three crazy kids, a loving husband, A guardian angel and the love and strength of God. So I will embrace the tears as the come, I will let the overwhelming emotions spill from my eyes as I remember. But then I will take a deep breath grab the hand of a strong man who loves me the woman, me the widow, and me the Crazy Red Haired Lady.
