A couple of RCM regulars have pinged me recently, and Karl checks on me every once in a while.
I lurk from time to time but haven't had anything I thought worth posting since the remote valve grabber -- which works great, by the way.
I'm lurchin' along. A grief counseller told me I'm doing very well. I thought she was pulling my chain; if this is "well" I'd hate to see "lousy". Then I went to a grief support group meeting. Yeah, OK, I guess I'm doing about as well as anyone does at this stage of the process. It's a slow process and it can't be hurried. There's a lot to do and a lot to learn. If ya don't do and learn then ya don't progress. Much of of it is difficult and some of it is painful, but that's how it works.
Life changes permanently when a spouse dies. It can never again be as it was before, so the survivor will never "get over it". That doesn't mean it can't eventually be good, just that it will be different. The challenge is then to decide and define how life will be.
I am definitely capable of joy and laughter, and I do have some happy times with friends and family. I've been to the cabin three times with friends, family or when I knew that lake friends and neighbors would be there, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's too miserably hot and humid to go this week.