Thursday, February 15, 2018

Valentine's Day

It was so sweet to spend some time with Lois yesterday especially when she reminded me that her husband died a year ago. It has been a difficult year for her to begin to adjust her life with the huge hole of this loss. They met in graduate school. She is in her late 60s. They built a life together.

We met at the other rehab way back in 2006 and began a friendship based on music. She sings with a professional chorus and has enjoyed the Mozart Festival in Austria every year for the past twenty years. Last year, she cancelled her year-long reservations as her husband was dying. We met yesterday so she could share all the concerts she attended - three to four per day for ten days - and just catch up with each other's lives. Many times, she would be brought to tears while talking  about either music or issues she was dealing with regarding her husband. So much music they had shared brought back so many memories. I remember that listening to some music after my dad died was impossible for a few years. The memories were too painful. I am so glad that her tears were able to flow freely. She has been seeing a grief counselor who has been encouraging her to work her way through the grief and not suppress it.

Later in the afternoon, Michael and I bought two fresh Dungeness crabs at the harbor for a special Valentine's Day dinner. It was our first of the season. We talked and laughed and enjoyed the evening together.

Grateful for every day together.

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