Friends and Family

I'm feeling a bit better today. I have a sinus and ear infection. I want to thank my friends, Chris and Kathy, for the wonderful dinner we had together this evening.

PARTING.

My life closed twice before its close;

It yet remains to see

If Immortality unveil

A third event to me,

So huge, so hopeless to conceive,

As these that twice befell.

Parting is all we know of heaven,

And all we need of hell.

Emily Dickinson

One thing that has helped me since Kathy's death is the support of friends and family. They have stepped up to provide their support and companionship.

Before I met Kathy, I had been a loner my entire life. Growing up, my family moved every few years. Between kindergarten and graduating high school, I attended seven different schools in six different locations. As a result, I had few, if any, friends, and tended to not keep in touch after moving. Before moving to Washington, the longest I'd ever lived anywhere was five and a half years.

Since moving to Washington, to be with Kathy, I've lived in the same house for 20 years and I'm still in contact with many of the friends I've made since moving here.

I find is difficult to accept help from others, and during the last month I've spent days at home alone not speaking to anyone. My tendency is to crawl into a hole and hide myself away. But, I can't do this alone, especially right now. To make it through, I need to accept the love and support of my family and friends

To everyone who has been there to offer their friendship, companionship, or just someone to talk to, I want to say thank you. And, if you should ever need it, I hope I can be just as good a friend to you someday.

Chris, thanks for being there tonight and talking with me about things that go boom.