NEW

My new life is taking new turns. 

New turns with some old background.

I’ve mentioned before that I like to get out and about: it’s always been like that. And Bob and I were on the road quite a bit too. But the pace has picked up some these past 28 months – I’m on the road a little more often, because home isn’t home without Bob in it.

Bob will never walk through the door again. 

Or occupy any of the rooms, in this house. 

This house now echoes with silence.

Bob’s absence is unnerving.

The silence is unnerving.

I gotta go several times a month … sometimes, several times a week.

This year, I’m going places – and doing things – I never did with Bob.

That’s a major adjustment.

A necessary action.

A couple months ago, when I was passing through Naselle; doing the Pe Ell loop daytrip I like to do because of the farm country enjoyed along the route, I crossed path with an old friend and her husband (I knew them both before I knew Bob). I hadn’t seen these friends in decades, but … suddenly, there they were that day. We spent some time – in that Naselle parking lot – catching up on each other’s lives – and promising to make time to spend time together.

I really wasn’t ready to do that, then.

I was still learning to find balance in juggling my ‘becoming’ new life, with my ‘before August 29^th, 2018’ past life.

They understood. 

They were patient. 

They know me: they know my life story.

They knew Bob had been my anchor.

They knew I needed time.

A couple weeks ago, I was passing through Naselle again … and we happened to be in the same place, at the same time, again.

I am in a better frame of mind now.

I still miss Bob; but the juggling has slowed down, and the balancing act has found balance.

I had coffee with them last Thursday.

And I made plans this afternoon to have coffee with them again.

This Thursday coffee hour may become “a thing” 😊

A new thing.

Our lives have slowed down – our kids have homes of their own, with children that keep them hopping: we have time to slice out, now, for a lazy coffee chit-chat sharing our lives in the moment … and spending some time reliving our glory days.

We are all retired. 

Most week days are open for me.

Thursdays work best for them.

And I don’t mind the drive 😉

It’s an old drive with a new purpose.