It's true that there are a HUGE number of cheery, supportive websites out there. So much more support than I ever remember back in the day. It's not so 'underground' anymore, I suppose.

I'll check around for some appropriate recipe options.

I won't give up, but it does feel like work right at the moment.

Though, my goal for this year is to go 'gently' into whatever comes next. The first week sucking so badly has GOT to guarantee me some slack, right? RIGHT? Don't answer that. I don't want to know.

Fair warning: It's less than a month to the first anniversary. I'm already not doing well. Actually, it's worse than I expected. This Saturday would have been his 41st birthday. I've come to the conclusion that while I loved my husband, I was no longer in love with him, and it sucks because we wasted time being unhappy together, when we could have perhaps found what we were missing elsewhere. Now I'm stuck.

So I don't know what exactly I'm going to need over the next month or so, but you people are high on the list. Forgive me if I'm tone deaf to everything else. I don't know if I can handle anything but getting through this next little bit at the moment.

{{{{{Maria}}}}} Anything at all that you need, we're here for you.

(((((Maria)))) We're here for you and don't worry about being tone deaf. Please use us in any way that you need.

Many hugs to you, Maria. That's such a huge revelation. I hope it is the first step to getting yourself unstuck. We are all here for you.

{{{Maria}}} wise words above. Lean on us...we will be here.

What a convergence of conflicting emotions, Maria, and how tricky to try to explain. The departed always seem to get idealized, and awkward truths get awkward. Here at least the truth can stand as the simple truth.

Oh, Maria, what a hard path you've been on. But you have walked it with a lot of honesty and self-reflection and that does matter.

It doesn't make it easier - it's often harder up front. But I believe it allows you to become unstuck and move onto a different path.

Sorry to go all metaphorical on you. I don't know how else to describe that process of grieving.

We are here though and you are in our hearts.

Precisely, Connie. I cannot say this anywhere else. While I no longer give a flying fuck what his parents think, if this was mentioned on FB, it would get back to them and restart the shitstorm. Nope. Not going there.

I'm tired of hearing how much I must miss him, and how wonderful he was--he was a good person, but no one else saw the Rob I saw. And sure as hell no one else had to deal with the fucking mess he left me. I'm tired of everyone assuming that we had a wonderful relationship, and I'm tired of being alone. Because I was alone long before he died.

And I'm not absolving myself of any fault I bear in how our relationship turned out. He wasn't the devil, just like I wasn't an angel. But it's so damned complicated and I hate how it's sabotaging any movement forward.