I came in off the road not quite a week ago, right before Thanksgiving. My PinkMagic trailer is parked outside my son's house here in Arizona. He recently moved in with his girlfriend, soon to be his wife, so I'm here at the house by myself. Which is alright because I seem to feel alone whether I'm with my kids or literally on my own.
The dark night of the soul; I'm very much there. Not because the holidays make it worse, which people seem to think. Chuck and I long ago stopped celebrating holidays so they don't hold meaning for me. No, this is the soul sick missing-ness that has enveloped me every day since he died. Perhaps being still now is why I feel like I'm drowning.
I know it's better for me to be on the road, meeting people, driving...but there's business I need to take care of here before I can go back out. New tires on my car, a new tire for my T@b, finances, seek out a counselor. And yet, here I am, day 3 in bed because I picked up a horrid flu bug that brought with it the whole shebang of vomiting and diarrhea, dizziness, extreme weakness, a cough...everything. So I can't get anything done and I need to because I'm working under a time constraint.
I'm really tired. Mentally and emotionally, and that has frozen me so that I don't seem able to make the smallest decisions. Even small steps seem impossible, and yet they must be made.
Yes, I miss Chuck more than ever now. Don't we all miss that one person who took care of us? He nursed me through minor illnesses over the years, as I nursed him. If one was down, the other got things done and that's no longer true. It's up to me and I can't get going. Each time I gear myself up to get out of bed, get a shower, force some food down (the BRAT diet right now), I collapse inwards again. I need the bed rest but don't have time for bed rest.
God, I miss him. I don't want to do this any more without him. It's the most devastating thing I've ever done; continuing to get up each day without him. Well-meaning people say loving things that don't help. No, he wouldn't want me to be like this. Yes, he'd want more for me. One day at a time. Just breathe. It will be better one day. It's all meaningless. I can't see into tomorrow morning, never mind one day.
I want my life back. I want my husband back. And big deal to that, says Life. He's gone and not coming back and you have to fucking figure it out so get going.
It feels like the rope snapped and there's only the roughness of my claw marks keeping me from going over. Suspended in air. Suspended in time~
I think I understand. The day ends, I've made it through. Then the thought hits I have to get myself out of bed again tomorrow. And once I manage that, I have to face whatever tomorrow brings. I'm clawing my way through each moment now. I'm trying to sell my house, and big things keep needing fixing. Another big hit because were he here, he'd know how to fix it, I'm not even sure who to call half the time. I can't get sick, I've little kids and that'd bring on even more problems. It's hell,and I'm tired. Struggling together, alone. Thinking of you, thank you, I hear you. ~Sandra
ReplyDeleteHello, Allison I relate t yr post I guess the most because u were married long time..from yr previous posts I think chuck came along for u at a time n yr life that u needed rescued by the knight in shining armor.. He was yr hero..finally found that true love..I do understand.. I tooo did not want t b here..I thought often he asked me to w him 3 times, 3 times said no..I would hv died that day to...physically.. , emotionally half of me did die that day..than I realized, oh this is what that feels like??? Widow? Who me.. I'm only 51.. My entire world wrapped around him since 17... 17 a baby.. We grew old together.. There r no plans, dreams, goals now.. Gone.. An entire lifetime of planning, dreaming, talking abt retirement never t b...6 yrs an 3 mos. now.. I'm n different place..I to must sell my house of 29 yrs because t big for me now... Without man to many things go undone.. Out of respect for him I will not allow it to go dwn.. We did hv that understanding.. But first 3 1/2 yrs I was in black hole.. I'm now at pt where I can make decisions.. Of that nature.. But I tooo suffer fr making everyday decisions easily..depression is debilitating .. It cripples u.. Days months years here.. However, I'm not giving up on my faith..before I met him I was a person.. A full of life person that was me..husbands don't define us.. He was he, I am me.. Poured myife into being a wife, mom, sister, daughter now grandma, friend, one of those categories is gone..I'm still a person That God created he has plan for rest of my life, as everyone else..Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.. Seasons for everything...hang n there my widowed friends...wish u all well in finding yr way forward...May God gv all of us strength..
ReplyDeleteAlison, I've been on this hellish journey for 3-1/2 years on the 21st. I lost the other half of me and now I feel like half a person. I understand everything you wrote because I've been there over and over throughout all these months. God bless you. Get well soon.
ReplyDeleteNo words really, just so sorry you are in this place.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote how I feel better than I ever could...it is a hell that is hard to put into words. Especially with a mind that is soup...Peace to you sister.
ReplyDeleteHow the hell are we supposed to continue to do this?
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