The Second Year
In widow circles, there is much discussion of the second and subsequent years after the loss of a spouse in terms of difficulty, stress, and emotion. Thoughts and opinions vary widely, as grief and our reaction to it is unpredictable and highly personal. We are all just taking it as it comes. These are my thoughts on the topic. In some ways the second year is easier. The firsts are over. Everyone has had their birthday, and we have lived through each holiday without him here. The new normal starts to feel actually normal. There are still days I get angry that the new normal even exists, but, I have come to a place of acceptance. And most days, I don't try to fight reality anymore. It is what it is. I may not have picked this life but it's not like I can quit now because "life is for the living", as Michael's friend so wisely told me. The children have shifted into their new roles of greater independence and self-sufficiency. There is a certain feeling