The thoughts I will express in this brief blog post might seem odd, but they are what is churning in my gut at the moment … so, here goes.
I have discovered a nagging obstacle to my emotional recovery from the tragedy I suffered in February with the loss of my bride, Kathy Anne, to cancer.
It is making decisions without having to consult with her. Others who have trudged along this path likely know of which I speak.
I am able to go anywhere I damn well without having to clear it with my bride of more than 51 years.
Example: I am going to hit the road next week for a quickie trip up yonder to Amarillo. I want to see friends, people I got to know over more than 20 years living in the Texas Panhandle. Prior to her passing, I would have asked Kathy Anne if she wanted to go. She might say “yes,” or maybe not. If the answer was no, well, I likely would have stayed home, too.
Hey, no sweat. I always enjoyed her company, whether it’s on the road or here at home.
These days I am not encumbered by anyone else’s wishes, not that I viewed her wishes a burden or any sort of barrier to me.
Now, though, I am free to pick up and go. I plan to do so again in a few weeks, heading back east for a two-week jaunt to North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia to see family and dear friends.
It’s all part of that so-called “new normal” I am seeking to discover. It’s there for the taking, I have determined. I just need to accept the reality of this moment.
Weird, man.