August 30, 2014. Nine years ago. An eternity. Or yesterday. It feels one and the same. The day my world turned upside down. Changed forever. The day Greg left this world. Yet, the absence remains imprinted on my heart. This journey. A rollercoaster of emotions, filled with highs and lows. Crashing waves. Moments of solitude. Reflecting on my grief journey, I realize how profoundly my world has changed. Most difficult? Learning to embrace the present, even in solitude.
Today I celebrate Greg. I celebrate his life. One of honor. Integrity. Love. Compassion. On this anniversary (as others) I am enveloped in a bittersweet embrace of sorrow and gratitude. Sorrow for the life we lost. Gratitude for the life we had. 9 years later, the pain of losing Greg remains, but I am grateful for the legacy of love and cherished memories. Sorrow and sadness. A testament of our love. Greg was not only my life partner. He was my soulmate. My best friend. A piece of my heart was taken away that August day. I’m not sure it will ever be whole again.
Amid the sorrow, there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Gratitude for 40 blessed years. The precious moments we shared. The love that continues to sustain me even in his absence. I am grateful for every smile. Every laugh. Every argument (let’s be real!). Every tender touch. All that we experienced throughout our life together. The years we had were a gift beyond measure. We created our own world. One of love. Trust. Understanding. Our life was full of joy, challenges, and growth. For that, I am eternally grateful. Greg brought immense joy and meaning to my existence. While I may not have realized it then, I am thankful for every second we had. We just didn’t have enough of them. The twinkle in his eyes. His “squeaky” laugh. His raucous snores. The warmth of his hug or touch of his hand. These memories are etched in my heart and bring warmth to the most difficult days. Greg’s love will forever guide me through life’s journey. I find strength in his memory and draw inspiration from the beautiful person he was. 
Today I choose to honor his memory, focusing on the joy and love we experienced together. I will honor Greg by embracing life with courage and grace, just as he did. I will cherish the memories we had, knowing they are my greatest treasure. I will continue to carry forward his legacy by emulating the compassion, kindness, generosity, and humility he embodied. Greg’s memory will forever remain alive in my heart and the hearts of all those whose lives he touched. “There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they are gone, the light remains.” Thank you for being my light. Today it will shine just a bit brighter. Forever loved. Forever missed. Somewhere over the rainbow…
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