The first week of August has been a time of reflection for me since 1987. August 7th, my husband drowned. I pulled his body from the bottom of the swimming pool where I found him. Later, at the hospital, I lost the child we had been expecting. It was not a blob of tissue. It looked like a little person and I looked at it on the floor of the hospital bathroom and my world shut down. Hard. My response to the tragedy of losing them both was hardly graceful and not in the least bit dignified.
Thirty-eight years later and the life I am living IS full of grace and dignity - with the occasional heavy setback. I walk with a different idea, different purpose and with the sorrow of that day kind of tucked somewhere in my heart to be used now for those who suffer much worse losses than me. I lost my child before it had taken a breath outside my body. I lost my husband who turned out to be the only man who ever loved me enough to want to marry me. I had a successful marriage and my child is in heaven. I hope my husband is too. My job, now, is to get there myself so I can (hopefully) worship with him in unity.
Today I get to live and be happy. I CHOOSE to live and be happy. I have a way of life that is second to none.
This does not mean that missing or wondering about what my life could have looked like doesn't cross my mind. Would my child have brought joy or sadness to the world? Would my husband and I have lived sober, happy lives as good parents and faithful spouses?
Thinking about the 'might have beens' is just a part of the human experience. It doesn't mean I am doing something wrong or need more therapy. I may need more therapy but I am pretty sure that is because some of the older members of my Scottie Club drive me nuts. No, all it means is I have been given a great gift by my Creator - the Gift of Remembrance. I am not going to denigrate it by wallowing. Neither am I going to ignore it because some people believe I should be 'over it' by now.
Oh and if anyone is wondering why I never remarried?
Simple....
Keanu Reeves never met me.
Now, if he would just come to his senses........