The Wandering Widow-Day 3

For me, 2018 was a very good, terrible horrible year.

Oh sure, some years are better than others, but this one was shitastic. 

Our daughter married a wonderful guy and we were able to spend quality time with our funny, beautiful granddaughter. 

We took a month-long road trip and spent time with our son in Vancouver, Canada, with family in Monterey and four days in our favorite city, San Francisco.

Life was good- until it wasn't.

My brother-in-law finally succumbed to a long illness and my father was diagnosed with the same brain disease that took John McCain. We lost another close family member in the fall unexpectedly and of course...

My healthy, happy husband died suddenly of a massive heart attack. 

He took a walk on the beach and came home and collapsed on the couch.

He was, handsome even in death.

Of course, this doesn't make it any better for me- losing my favorite person in the world, my best friend and lover.

I'm dealing with it- because what other choice do I have? Mentally I am strong as hell, but over the last month, my body has rebelled and I've been as sick as I have ever been- as much as I tried to deny it.

But again, you move forward.

I am on a month-long road trip to try and get my inspiration and my sanity back. So far, I've seen some lovely scenery and the inside of an ER in Moab, Utah.

My darling husband would want me to go forward and be brave and happy. I'm going to do my goddamn best because I still have my family and friends and hopefully, 2019 with be kinder to us.
 

Writing while Broken

It's been four months since I blogged, but I have a great excuse- I fell down.

Backwards. Really far. In Colorado, a week after my last post.

I'll spare you the details except to say my right wrist- my writing hand- broke in 12 pieces. It was quite dramatic.

Anyway, I am still healing, but while I was broken I continued to write- albeit painfully

slower and with only one finger.

A writer writes!

And we continued to travel and we will in 2018. On this last day of 2017- a horrible, very good year- the Los Angeles Times published my essay about living on the road.

http://beta.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-reed-rv-life-is-not-so-bad-20171231-story.html

Enjoy and happy New Year!

Accumulation

It has only been 6 months since we moved into the park. What started as innocent hunters and gatherers - we made ourselves comfortable in our immediate surroundings, but it now seems somewhat excessive...

When one of the many plans concerning our vacation from our vacation- i.e. - the 30- day- move out, was to rent another storage unit locally when we already have a storage unit, indicates how much accumulation has occurred. Now, admittedly, the wife and I have made ourselves very comfy here in our space, and the "stuff " never seems too much until you have to move it.

The endgame is one of all the "stuff " going in many different directions. I would have included the local dumpster but the wife is more than reluctant to part with any of these so- called treasures. I want to thank those already willing to park some small belongings and also thank those unaware that "stuff " is coming their way.

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad

-- Aldous Huxley
RTR