Thank you Dana. I too, seem to always think in terms of “before and after” these days. It is obvious from the pictures. What once was and will never be again. I was thinking about you both today, driving through the state. Exit number 22. Frost, Louisiana. I appreciate all you write and share.
As always, your writing is not just beautiful, your words also go straight to my heart. They speak to me and I feel less alone in the mess of thoughts about the "before and after loss sort of me".
In my opinion, you are a brilliant writer who shed light to so many topics and emotions within grief and life.
When I look at photos of myself before my husband got cancer and died within ten weeks, I see someone who thought she smiled from the bottom of her heart, someone who was blissfully ignorant to the possibillity of becoming a widow in the midst of life.
And yet, while looking at that smiling person, I know that some of the photos show a story that's not neccesarilly was the fully truth.
I wasn't happy all the time, neither was my husband. We had our fair share of shit, and like so many other couples we struggled with real experiences of life taking unexpected directions that were not wrapped up in simple endings.
The difference is that we then had each other to lean on to, we then had each other to create new memories with.
We also had each other to smile to, no matter what.
All photos of life before loss are precious reminders of the life I lived, but they also show how much I've lost.
Thank you Dana. I too, seem to always think in terms of “before and after” these days. It is obvious from the pictures. What once was and will never be again. I was thinking about you both today, driving through the state. Exit number 22. Frost, Louisiana. I appreciate all you write and share.
One day, I'll make it to Frost, Louisiana, to exit 22. I hope to meet you there 💛
I’d love that Dana.
As always, your writing is not just beautiful, your words also go straight to my heart. They speak to me and I feel less alone in the mess of thoughts about the "before and after loss sort of me".
In my opinion, you are a brilliant writer who shed light to so many topics and emotions within grief and life.
When I look at photos of myself before my husband got cancer and died within ten weeks, I see someone who thought she smiled from the bottom of her heart, someone who was blissfully ignorant to the possibillity of becoming a widow in the midst of life.
And yet, while looking at that smiling person, I know that some of the photos show a story that's not neccesarilly was the fully truth.
I wasn't happy all the time, neither was my husband. We had our fair share of shit, and like so many other couples we struggled with real experiences of life taking unexpected directions that were not wrapped up in simple endings.
The difference is that we then had each other to lean on to, we then had each other to create new memories with.
We also had each other to smile to, no matter what.
All photos of life before loss are precious reminders of the life I lived, but they also show how much I've lost.