Halloween Ghosts and Goblins
I Am No Longer Afraid of the Future
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 29 seconds
During my younger days, my wife and I used to dress up in Halloween costumes. Even after I turned sixty, I continued to join in the fun. In the attached photo, you can see my wife in one of her favorite costumes. The blue jacket she’s wearing is mine, and it holds a special place in my heart as I wore it the day we first met. To this day, I still have that jacket and cherish it dearly. The buttons on the coat were primarily from my collection of historic Presidential campaign buttons. Despite living in a house, we rarely had trick-or-treaters, and now that I live alone in an apartment, I only hear faint sounds of children asking for candy from the store owners.
After the passing of my wife, I realized that Halloween, a holiday about death, now had a much different meaning for me. Instead of simply being a holiday filled with fun and excitement, it became a time of fear and sadness. Seeing ghosts, goblins, and skeletons on display made me acutely aware of the loss I had experienced. While I understand that death is a natural part of life, the once cheerful holiday now felt like a haunting reminder of what I had lost.
It has been two years since I became a widow, and I overlooked the holiday this time. Yesterday, I had to visit the urgent care at my pharmacy, and I walked past the candy aisle without paying attention. When the nurse practitioner asked if I was married, I didn’t feel anxious or experience an increase in my blood pressure. It wasn’t new, and I wasn’t worried about it. In many ways, Halloween 2023 is the beginning of new opportunities!
From the depths of grief, I have emerged more robust and inspired than ever! The love I shared with my wife has given me the courage to stand tall and embrace all that life offers exciting opportunities! After almost thirty months of living alone, I have mastered daily living skills and unlocked the key to happiness and joy! And guess what? I have found love again, and it’s like a dream come true! Every day is filled with anticipation and excitement as I wake up to a life I never thought possible. I am thrilled to discover all the fantastic things that the future holds for me, and nothing, not even the goblins, can scare away the love that I have found!
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Reflecting on the past can sometimes perplex us, struggling to comprehend what happened and why. The initial months of 2019 were a trying time for me when I relinquished full-time work and found myself at a loss for purpose. My wife's lymphoma diagnosis necessitated my role as a full-time caregiver, and I embraced my newfound responsibilities with empathy and devotion. Four and a half years later, I must face the significant questions I had set aside to tend to my wife. However, the experience of caring for her and eventually becoming a widow has fortified me, making me feel more confident and capable of tackling these challenges head-on.
When I retired, I struggled with the same questions I faced after my wife passed - who am I, what do I want, and what should I do next? However, my experience as a caregiver provided me with valuable insights and answers. Rabbi Renee taught me the importance of giving love away, a critical lesson that helped me better understand myself and my desires. As a result, I am confident about moving forward.
Love is Mysterious and Powerful
I Am No Longer Afraid of the Future
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 29 seconds
Love is Mysterious and Powerful
It has been twenty-seven months since I became a widow, and I have realized that my love for my late wife, Jan, Jan has only grown stronger.
Life can be full of surprises when it comes to love. Sometimes, we may think we'll be alone forever, but love can come unexpectedly. Recently, I discovered I had romantic feelings for someone I've known for almost two years. Surprisingly, she has romantic feelings for me too! It's still too early to know the future, but this experience has reminded me that love can exist in any situation. As Lorrie Moore once said, love is a feeling that can thrive in any circumstance, from hospitals to prisons and even in times of war.
The book Never Forget Our People Were Always Free is told through parables. It features intimate glimpses of political and