Social Butterfly

I've been a social butterfly recently and haven't spent time here.

When I lost my husband, a very dear friend (widowed for 40+ years) advised me when people ask me to go and do with them to say, "Yes." I have been doing just exactly as she suggested and it has been wonderful.

I have continued to "purge" and have donated more Christmas items and some drinking glasses.

I'm sorting through 30 years of Christmas cards my husband and I have received. Yes, 30 years of cards.

When we married, I discovered my husband kept the cards he received every holiday season. He would put them in a brown paper bag, write the year on the bag and put them in a box. He never decorated his house when he was a bachelor, so the only holiday items he had were the cards. When we married, I continued his tradition of saving cards. Fast forward to 2016 and I have an entire plastic storage bin of cards.

A few years ago, I suggested we get rid of the old cards. He would not hear of it. He said the cards were part of his/our history.

I'm going through every card and setting aside ones from his closest friends. The majority of the cards have photos of the kids with handwritten notes and/or Christmas letters. I'm planning send the cards back to our friends and include a note explaining how my husband kept them. It's a sneaky way to "purge", but I think they will appreciate the story and enjoy seeing all their cards at once.

Monday, the 11th, was the 7 month anniversary of my husband's death. I didn't even realize it until I spoke to my Mom that evening and she asked how I was coping. I'm glad the day wasn't sad for me, but I'm sad that I didn't remember.

I'll be with my husband's family this weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.

I feel like I'm managing my grief fairly well. It really helps that I assign myself tasks to accomplish when I'm home. I guess I'll keep doing what I'm doing...

Three, Three and Three!

This morning I met one of my nieces and her husband for brunch. It was so nice to spend quality time with them.

Another 2016 goal for me will be to spend one on one time with all members of the family, in addition to seeing everyone at gatherings. I'm fortunate that years ago, from the moment my husband and I introduced our families to each other, everyone got along. We are all so lucky that we have each other and there are no major, family splitting issues.

After brunch, I strolled through an antique mall. Yes, I remembered my 2016 words are Purge and Organize!

I would say 75% of the items in my home are things my husband and I collected over years of going to antique malls, estate sales, flea markets and garage sales. I had one item I was specifically looking for this afternoon. I broke a vintage tea glass a few months ago, which was part of a set. I knew I would find a replacement at this particular mall and I did. In fact, I also found a vintage tea glass in a different pattern to complete a second set. Another purchase was a vintage, wide mouthed glass jar. I collect those for use in the pantry. I spent a grand total of $19.84. A small price to pay for a bit of fun.

You'll be happy to know that I did spend time this afternoon purging and re-organizing three kitchen cabinets. As a result, I have three sacks of items to donate. I was pleased with the outcome, since I brought three, new to me, items into the house.  Three, three and three!

Tomorrow I return to work and 2016 begins in earnest. I wonder what this year holds in store for me?

2016 Word: Purge

I'm pleased with my results so far in relation to my 2016 word "purge."

After working 1.5 days in the basement,  I have emptied 7 plastic storage bins.

You know, those bins you purchase at Target?  

Click here.

Good grief.

And, that's only the Christmas bins.

I will continue with my "purge" goal for 2016.

Words and Goals for 2016

I toasted my husband and our life together last night.

2016 is going to be a good year for me.

My words for 2016 are:

1) Purge

2) Organize

A few of my 2016 goals are:

1) Drink more water

2) Read more books

3) Go to more movies

How about you?

2016 - A New Year

My entire life changed when I lost my husband of 20+ years in June of 2015.

He went to his doctor in June of 2014 because he did not feel "right." One year later, he was gone.

Before he left me, his instructions were:

• Have a good life.
• Find a buddy to travel with and have fun.
• Marry again, if I want. (I can't even imagine.)

He loved me and I loved him.

This blog is going to be a chronicle of how I navigate my new life without him.