She Would Have Been 46 Today

[Chasing Embers]

The photo of this couple was taken twenty-six years ago when they returned from their honeymoon and decided a photo booth looked like fun. Both of them freshly twenty years old and nothing but big plans of future and family before them. Six months after the picture was taken, the husband was laying his beautiful young wife to rest and the person he was simply ceased to exist. Today she would have been 46 and even though he managed to carry on without her, every October 17th he lights a candle for her birthday.

 

[mso489]

I lost my first wife on Oct. 19, 2000. She was 52 but headed in an expansive way for the future. I soon went back to work, but grieving was a years long process. I still have her anthologies from which she taught English, incredibly and furiously underlined and annotated in colored marker and pen. I had to go far back in my past to find a partner. My condolences.

 

[Chasing Embers]

but grieving was a years long process

And often recurring.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I’ve lost lots of loved ones over the years, but never a spouse. I couldn’t even imagine. Thoughts are with you, man.

 

[peregrinus]

Time does not heal all wounds.
Some wounds never heal, they simply settle into an ache that persists.
My sympathies.

 

[verporchting]

My thoughts are with you Duane. Be well, friend.

 

[geopiper]

That’s way, way too young to be taken away. Sorry you had to go through that.

 

[highwaycobbery]

I am so sorry, I am sending you love tonight.

 

[hairvise]

This is a very beautiful and poignant tribute, Duane. It is a gentle reminder for all of us to remember what really matters in life. It’s so easy to forget this in our day to day struggles, complaints, gripes and annoyances.

Thank you for sharing this piece and may your pipe smoking provide you with some small solace on this day.

 

[edger]

Bless you all.

 

[bullet08]

I'll smoke a bowl for you guys. I'm sure she's resting peacefully.

 

[mingc]

Hole in the heart

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Beautiful lady, what a tragedy. Sorry for your lost, I can't imagine how difficult that must have been.

 

[STP]

So sad to hear of your loss ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've learned to push most of it down in the years since, but something about this year is different. The cool snap of the weather, the smell of the air, something really brought a flood of memory and emotion back today. Even remembered what her hair smelled like in that photo. Must be another of 2020's surprises.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

No matter the end, being able to fall in love even once makes you a very lucky guy.

 

[Chasing Embers]

No matter the end, being able to fall in love even once makes you a very lucky guy.

The lady I'm with now, and the mother of my children, is as wonderful if not more so in her own right, but there's always that "what if" deep in the back of my mind.

 

[didimauw]

I've been with my wife now for 14 years....I can't even begin to imagine what you have been through. My thoughts are with you brother!

 

[PipesRock]

I can't even imagine Embers. I immediately thought of some pictures similar from a Daytona Boardwalk booth with my wife to be at 19 years old (35+ years now) the young love visible on our faces as it is in yours... very powerful & real... just the thought struck so hard. SO sorry for your loss man. Take care.

 

[saltedplug]

I'm so sorry, Duane..