Lynda Grace An Hour Away

 Sunday, August 4, 2024 "How's the new place?" they ask.  Some might wonder how I could  not  love the "new place".   After all it's cute, right?  Reminiscent of a little New England style cottage.  Everyone who visits always comments on how cozy the "new place" feels.  "It's low maintenance, gated security, plenty of activities available and clubs to join," they say.  I am trying to love the "new place".  I've dressed it up with curtains and carpets.  I'm in the process of giving the kitchen a face lift with shiny new cabinets.  I've hung Ross' prized artwork and displayed his precious thrift store finds.   All of the furniture here in the "new place" is the furniture I brought with me from our old place.  I've re-arranged the living room a hundred times. I placed the "Big Toe" flower pot, the one that always made us smile, under the front yard tree and had the landscaping redone. Bu...

 My love, my Ross, passed away on February 12, 2024, exactly twenty-seven years and one day from the first time we met.  And each and every one of those days of  knowing him, being with him and loving him brought me joy. Joy, a seemingly simple little three letter word, embodied all that was Ross.   I believe it was just his nature to generously give of himself.   One foggy and rainy winter night we were on the way to a holiday gathering at a friend's house. As we headed down the dark highway, only several yards away, we witnessed a car swerve and crash into another car. When we got close enough, Ross immediately pulled over to the side of the road, jumped out of the car to see what help he could give.  Yes, he was that person.  I think what I loved most about him was his respect for my individual self.   We were opposites as far as personality goes.  He a confident social extrovert, I a shy introvert uncomfortable in a group. ...