Good morning, Danish, Donuts and Bagels in the Break Room. Shopping is on the agenda today. We came in second in trivia last night. Enjoy the day and hug someone.

Good Sunday morning! Oldbroad, it's cool how pets know when to snuggle up and when to stay away. Dave was not supposed to allow any cats in his lap for a couple of weeks after surgery because of the incision. One of the cats is in his lap all the time, but she never came near him while he was recovering!

Gerry, it started snowing lightly last night and the temps really dropped - all ushering in a terrible cold blast by the middle of this week with temps dropping below zero F. Hubby started taking care of the chickens yesterday! Woot! Just in time for me to not have to go out. I've been doing it for 6 weeks through all that ice and cold.

Hope all you folks who are sick are starting to feel better!

Good morning everyone.

We're in the midst of non-stop rain for two days and the ice is finally gone. If it warms up a bit more I can wash my car.

Draclvr, Willow always seemed to know when John was feeling bad because she stuck with him, slept curled up with him and didn't leave his side for the last couple of years. We always thought she knew he was sick right from the start. When she was a kitten she used to put her paws around his arm and pull herself tight to his chest, which we called a Huggle. She never did that with me or anyone else. I think it was a special thing she did for her sick human.

I love that, hagatha... a Huggle. Perfect name for it!

That's what I'm talking about, hagatha!

I hope you each enjoy your Sunday!

Greetings all: i always enjoy reading the posts although I do not often post here.

My daughter Rachel sent me this link as a result of being one of those interviewed on widowhood, and I thought it might be of interest to quite a few of you https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/9163921dcaaf9897

Lex, so much of that is true for me, even though these women are younger than I was and the deaths were sudden, whereas I had a lot of time to prepare.

Fortunately, I already knew how to pay the bills and the taxes and keep everything going. My job had involved financial management for condos and for rental property owners, so most of it was second nature, and John and I spent a lot of time going over our finances. I've met recent widows who honestly had no clue how to do any of that, though, who had no idea how much money there was or how to access it or even where it was invested. That would be terrifying.

There are times now when I'm seriously annoyed that I have to do everything, like shovel the d*** driveway even if I really don't feel like it. I suppose that's progress, in an odd sort of way.

I think a lot of that is true for any person losing any loved one, not just a spouse. One thing I pray every day is that my brother and I will "go" together so neither of us is left alone.

I am in the same boat as hagatha. Fortunately, I pretty much managed all the household finances and legal issues. I also had a long illness to prepare for bank accounts etc. I can't imagine being in a position of having no power or knowledge of that part of a marriage. Terrifying is a good way to put it.

I pretty much did everything out here on my little 10 acres outside too, so that wasn't much of a change. But that was almost 30 years ago... I am at a point in my life where I don't WANT to do everything like I used to!

My sudden widowhood was a traumatic and shocking experience and although it was over 30 years ago I still feel like it occured just yesterday - and wouldn’t wish it to happen to any other person

Good morning everyone. A new week. Hopefully without new drama.

Emegency rations of instant coffee and knäckebröd available in the break room.
Mr Frost is still outdoors but Mrs Sun stays away today. Possible she doesn't like Mondays.

Happy Monday GameBoomers

Good Morning everyone. Wide Awake Double Dark Brew is ready!

My hubby of 60+ years passed suddenly of cardiac arrest just over a year ago. As Mad said it is a horrible experience I will never get over...but like Draclvr I managed the daily finances and we shared the knowledge of all our assets so I was well prepared to deal with the legal and financial issues.

Weather here is not good everything is iced over...there are power outages and the winds are going to be gusty today with wind gusts to 50mph and wind chills below zero...bitter cold tomorrw too.

I hope you all have better weather today!

Gerry

Good morning, Danish, Donuts and Bagels in the Break Room. I also took care of all the bills. My hubby was ill for two years before he passed on his Birthday 13 years ago this month .Don always said his job was to earn the money, mine was to spend it. We were married 52 years, and I still miss him every day. Enjoy the day and hug someone.

My daughter Rachel also has a substack blog on which she reviews the latest Bridget Jones movie (amongst other things), and again this may resonate
https://racheloriordan.substack.com...mp;utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

I also have an older cousin who sent this email as part of a family discussion following the Telegraph interviews:

"It was coming up to 8 years since I lost my husband Gino , and I find myself still quite reflective at these times.

Neither of us were as young as you or the other contributors, but somehow grief is good at piercing the shield whatever your age.

If you’ve loved someone, in my case for 36 years , you always will, and even if you meet someone else or life changes, you’ll still love them , you’ll never lose that.
Why would you?

I talk regularly to Gino, and chat to him , in fact it was a very old friend of mine who lived in Canada who said to me after Gino died :
“Be sure you talk to him “
I recommend it to anyone who has lost somebody, it keeps him with me and is companionable!

But you are right, It is extraordinary how grief can suddenly ambush, coming often out of the blue when least expected , a piece of music, a remark, glass of wine , an ice cream he liked, often seemingly irrelevant, it will trigger the momentary anguish, hijacking where you are in your day.
But it will pass.

I was so lucky, having ,as you did, had such a good life together, and loved and was loved so dearly.
We were in the same sphere , Gino an illustrator , and me a painter ,we shared humour and affection and so much more .

And even a new and different relationship after so long , can be a complete surprise and joy, life must go on .

I’m sure you’ll will be open to what comes your way .
And I wish you happiness again."

I hope this is not inappropriate material for the forum.

Good Monday morning! How nice to sit and enjoy my WADDB alone with the cats! Hubby drove himself to his PT appointment today. And I don't have to bundle up and go out to the chicken house and barn!

Just dreading the weather heading our way. Forecast is 5 - 11 inches of snow with temps heading below zero F at night for several days. I am driving a friend to a post-op appointment after a shoulder replacement tomorrow. Of course, all this snow is forecast right in the middle of us driving an hour and a half to get to her appointment and an hour and a half to get home!

Lex, I don't think it's inappropriate at all. We all have such different life experiences which is what make GB such a great place. I have buried two husbands and am on my 3rd - and last! - one. One good thing that came of it all is my huge extended family. I have my two sons and their families with my first, I have three step-daughters and all their families including GREAT grandchildren with my second, and I have my step-son and step-daughter with current hubby.

Good morning, Boomers,

Lex, this conversation is about something we will all have to face some time. Some of us have already spoken about it here over the years. It's good to have a place to share among friends.

Yes. Gameboomers has a great community spirit and makes everyone feel welcome, whether their posts are happy or not so happy ones 👀

Good afternoon everyone.

I agree that it is nice to be able to share griefs and fears with people who care, as those here at GameBoomers do. Of course, love the happy stories and everyday life stories too.

Have a wonderful day all!

Edit: This is a book I read years ago that I thought was good at the time. Good Grief by Lolly Winston

https://books.google.com/books/abou...c=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Good afternoon OldBroad, Mad, Hagatha, Draclvr, Lex, Connie, Gerry, Fogfighter and everyone. Feeling more human today and think I'm gaining a little traction in my tug of war with the crud. Max is his normal GSD self OldBroad, he's not a cuddler like our labs were. Wonderful thoughts, email and stories shared these past days. Connie, I have the same philosophy as your Don has.

Take care all and wishing you all a wonderful week.

Forgive my ignorance soot, but what does GSD mean? Glad to hear you are feeling a little better!

German Shepard Dog ... apologize for the acronym

Good Morning connie, Lex, Draclvr, hagatha, oldbroad, soot, Fogfighter and everyone. Wide Awake Double Dark Brew is ready!

Lex thank you for sharing your thoughts.. and feelings of losing someone so dear to you. I agree it does help to "talk" to my Bill..it is a comfort....a way of coping.

Sounds like everyone is still experiencing frigid cold ...soot glad to hear you are feeling better.

Enjoy your day everyone...I hope the sun shines on your day!

Gerry

Good morning, Danish, Donuts and Bagels in the Break Room. Lunch and Netflix with a friend today. Enjoy the day and hug someone.

Good Tuesday morning! Snow coming down, but fine yet. Supposed to crank up later today.

I'm leaving in a few minutes to pick up a friend to take her to her post-op checkup a week after her shoulder replacement surgery. She uses a hospital that is over an hour drive on GOOD roads. We're allowing ourselves 2 hours. Gads I'll be glad when we're back home!

Tootin Toosday afternoon everyone. Safe travels Draclvr! Ejoying WADDB and bagels. Groceries and chores are completed for the day. Stay warm and have a wonderful afternoon.