Erica

Dec 132009
 
HeeJun didn’t like parties. It was one of the things that first attracted me to him. He didn’t need to fit in or to be social to feel good about himself. He was confident in himself. He would have much rather sat at home watching a good movie, than go out and be social.

Well, apparently, I like to party. I enjoy having friends over and planning fun times.

Our agency Holiday party was canceled this year, so I decided to host an Tacky Un-Holiday Party for my team. Ugly Christmas sweaters, Spiked Egg Nog, Ginger Bread House making, Elf on DVD, A Dirty Santa Gift Exchange, and Wii. The night before I thought to myself, “what was I thinking?” A grieving widow should not put herself through something like that. But once every one showed up, and thanks to my troops last week for helping me clean, I actually had fun! Wii might be the best invention ever.

HeeJun would have hated it. Maybe, not hated. But he would have laughed at the drinking fools. He probably would have given me the stink eye when i drank that glass of wine, too. He would have loved the Wii though.

Doing something like this was a big step for me. I wasn’t sure where to put HeeJun’s pictures and the scrapbook. Would it make them uncomfortable? They all know me, so would it be weirder if the pictures weren’t out. I told my friend that at work I can put on a brave face and be distracted, but at home, I’m still a crying mess. So having the work life merge into the home life, was a big deal for me. Also, having alcohol in the fridge was a big deal, too! Going to the ABC store was the biggest deal!

 Posted by at 9:14 pm
Dec 112009
 

I have been going to my widows grief group for a year now. It’s been 16 months yesterday. I realized that tonight at the group. I thought it was only 15. Only. Will the 9th ever pass one day without me counting the month? I forgot month 16. What does that mean?

I had a very hard time in the group today bringing myself into the grief world. Letting myself “go there”. I came in laughing with a friend and it was like a shock to my system when everyone was meditating and deep breathing. “Wait, go back to laughing! Don’t think about that sadness! Don’t let the tears come”, said my body. I was the first to talk and share my story. A shock to get my brain in grief gear. Wait, I haven’t told this story in a month. Can’t we talk about work or my dogs or tacky Christmas sweaters?

What does that mean? I think I need to share the story more and remember more.

I see the new widows and widowers come in and I am reminded of the shock, the uncontrollable shaking, the gasping for breath, the racing thoughts, the falling down sobbing. It hurts to be reminded of that, but maybe it is a good thing to have that reminder. And maybe it’s a good thing for them to see that one day you might walk into the group laughing.

 Posted by at 12:10 am