Married for thirteen years, widowered for twelve

Thirteen years ago today I got married:

Slightly less than twelve years ago, I became a widower.

For reasons I don’t want to make public quite yet, it hard me a bit harder than normal this time. The grieving process is an extended farewell. Part of that farewell is letting go of the physical reminders of your loved one. The food you bought because she liked it, the clothes, perfumes and other things she left behind you cannot use and cannot keep. The little touches here and there in your shared home that were particularly hers. Plans are afoot that will necessarily bring about a loss of most of these reminders as I’m starting a new chapter in my own life. A very positive change, but none the less on a day like this, one that hurts a bit.