Time is such a strange thing. It seems like it was yesterday, and a lifetime ago. Ten years have passed since my husband died. My life is completely different now, which is why it feels like a lifetime. But I’m the same person and the excruciating pain and trauma is forever with me.

I have learned a great deal in the last ten years. The biggest lesson is that happiness is a choice. No matter what life throws at you, it’s how you deal with the hardships and the joys. Being constantly bitter or sad because of misfortune doesn’t help, but it does take time to sort it all out.

Working on my memoir has helped me keep things in perspective. It’s cathartic and it’s hard work. The first step was just writing it all down. The re-writing, and re-writing again and again is the hard work part but I truly enjoy it. I lose track of time trying to select just the right word digging through the thesaurus.

I’m up to Chapter 20 in my re-writing. I don’t know how many chapters it will be ultimately because some things changed drastically in the parts I’ve re-written. Happily I’ve gotten through the parts that are hardest emotionally. Of course there will be more work on them, but the hardest part is over.

The other odd bit about time is the year 2020. Being locked down made it seem as though the year never happened. Being in lock down mode also gave me the impetus to write my book.

Gradually life is getting close to “normal.” Although I’m not sure what normal is anymore. Stay safe out there and have a very merry Christmas.