WE ARE SORRY for your loss 💛

[Winter2025VA]

THIS GROUP IS OPEN TO ALL GRIEVERS NO MATTER HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN [years,days].

To participate, click on reply button at bottom of this post. Enter your comment. Click on reply again.

Grief Team  🤗

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  Laurel @LaurelH1933 , I am so sorry for your loss!!! Yes, I still skip the holidays & thankful my daughter has friends to spend it with. Thanksgiving is the WORST = so NOT feeling thankful. Maybe with time, we will BOTH find a NEW way to celebrate the holidays. As far as the anniversaries, I try to honor the person by doing something that brings "comfort" - in between the tears.

Luv,

Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

➡️[*** LAUREL 

---

@LaurelH1933 wrote:

My husband died 3 years ago & I still need support around the holiday season & the anniversary of his death.

---

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  What are YOU dealing with at THE MOMENT?  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

NEVER feel ashamed about any challenges you are facing.

WE ALL will have them at some point of our lives.

*** Stop by to SHARE when you feel up to it and/or SUPPORT another griever (with a comment to their post). Members helping members.  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

I am ALWAYS here IF you need me.

Luv,

Nicole  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌  (Grief Forum)

[LaurelH1933]

The anniversary of my husband's death is next Tuesday. I am dreading that day.

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  Laurel @LaurelH1933 , I still cry and get angry that he is no longer here. What has helped is planning some OPTIONS for that day. Options that I can CHANGE as needed. EVERY day is "one step at a time" and as I grow STRONGER, I have HOPE things will get better. I am ALWAYS here whenever you need me!!!

Luv,

Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

➡️[*** LAUREL 

---

@LaurelH1933 wrote:

The anniversary of my husband's death is next Tuesday. I am dreading that day.

---

[Winter2025VA]

🕯 Online" SUPPORT for your journey - before you bury your luv one & after.  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

SO MANY decisions to be made!!!

Let us help you through all of this = WE ALSO lost someone we cared about.

Our wonderful AARP Experts Jane @JaneCares & Amy @agoyer do stop by to SUPPORT us. Thank you Jane & Amy.

Grief & Loss Team  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌

[agoyer]

@Winter2025VA happy to help out anyway I can! 

be sure to check out the section on AARP’s website with grief and loss support. There’s lots of good articles and information there!

www.AARP.org/griefandloss 

tc

Amy Goyer, AARP Family and Caregiving Expert

[Winter2025VA]

‌‌‌‌‌🕯   For those of us who have "furbabies" - remember THEY ARE ALSO missing the person you guys lost!!!

So try to give them SOME EXTRA attention & luv. TOGETHER you guys will survive your loss.

I have a cat by the name of Mister and trust me, he EXPECTS his breakfast at 6am. Lol, at that time I probably just fell asleep from a night of NO SLEEP. But I get up and feed and luv on him. Luvs under his chin rubbed. Furbabies keep us MOVING FORWARD [getting out of bed daily].

Luv,

Nicole  ‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌  (Grief Forum)

[MichelleC103656]

Hey Nicole! Thanks for sending love to my furbabies last night. Our girl cats really need it. Bristol, the Lynx Point, and Nova, the gray and white Manx haven't been feeling so well the last couple of days. The vet said that they are having bad allergic reactions to their new flea medicine. We have had fleas and ticks so bad in New York this Summer. We have had to give them lots of baths and bomb the house. Our boy cat, Stewie, hasn't been bothered as much. The girls have been infested and have been losing their fur in spots. The new medicine irritated them and made them sick.The vet suggested we try something more natural and less harsh. We have used coconut oil with some success. We have just been so worried and upset. We hate seeing them suffer. It makes you feel so helpless. Well, I have to go. Thank you for your encouraging and reassuring words. 🙂💌🐱🐱🐱👩‍🏫

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  You are welcome Michelle @MichelleC103656 !!! Hmmm, are they bringing them from outside? I am surprised Mister  🐈  has NOT had any. Lol, it took a VERY LONG time for me to let him in my bed. Goodness, I hope things fall in place soon. Yes, our babies & we do feel helpless at times.  ☹  Luv, Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

➡️[*** MICHELLE 

---

@MichelleC103656 wrote:

Hey Nicole! Thanks for sending love to my furbabies last night. Our girl cats really need it. Bristol, the Lynx Point, and Nova, the gray and white Manx haven't been feeling so well the last couple of days. The vet said that they are having bad allergic reactions to their new flea medicine. We have had fleas and ticks so bad in New York this Summer. We have had to give them lots of baths and bomb the house. Our boy cat, Stewie, hasn't been bothered as much. The girls have been infested and have been losing their fur in spots. The new medicine irritated them and made them sick.The vet suggested we try something more natural and less harsh. We have used coconut oil with some success. We have just been so worried and upset. We hate seeing them suffer. It makes you feel so helpless. Well, I have to go. Thank you for your encouraging and reassuring words. 🙂💌🐱🐱🐱👩‍🏫

---

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  A place to share and support EACH OTHER with comments [pictures too].  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

What is going on in YOUR LIFE?  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤔‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

WE share OUR JOURNEY while grieving & after grieving. Some of us are still grieving AFTER losing our luv one(s) YEARS AGO. Grief has NO schedule & TOGETHER we will make it.  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌💛‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Some days we have a "chuckle" at what a member posts.

Some days "tears" are in our eyes.

Other days we are doing a HAPPY DANCE WITH THEM as they get STRONGER on their journey.

YOU got this.  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌👍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Grief & Loss Team  🤗  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

[MichelleC103656]

Nicole, you are so wonderful and nice!  You always have something positive to say. It is so very true what you are saying about grief. My sister and I still miss our Dad so much every day. We miss seeing him and talking to him. We really miss his wonderful advice. He was so much to so many. People who used to work with him or were his friends still tell me what a great guy he was. It makes me so happy. I think about him more when it the week of my birthday. The year he died, 2015, my birthday was on Monday. He died on Friday, October 2nd, which was my great grandmother's birthday. Every year, my birthday reminds me of the anniversary of his death. I have to go now. I can't see,because I can't stop crying. Thank you for your kind words and fantastic attitude. You are a real treasure. 🙂💌👩‍🏫

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  Dear Michelle @MichelleC103656 , I am so sorry about your dad dear friend. I still skip the holidays. I am hoping with time I will be able to put on a smile and participate. Thankfully my darling daughter has an extended family she can spend them with. We ALL have those "cries" and the experts say to CRY. All part of our journey. Sweet dreams tonight!!! Luv, Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

➡️[*** MICHELLE 

---

@MichelleC103656 wrote:

Nicole, you are so wonderful and nice!  You always have something positive to say. It is so very true what you are saying about grief. My sister and I still miss our Dad so much every day. We miss seeing him and talking to him. We really miss his wonderful advice. He was so much to so many. People who used to work with him or were his friends still tell me what a great guy he was. It makes me so happy. I think about him more when it the week of my birthday. The year he died, 2015, my birthday was on Monday. He died on Friday, October 2nd, which was my great grandmother's birthday. Every year, my birthday reminds me of the anniversary of his death. I have to go now. I can't see,because I can't stop crying. Thank you for your kind words and fantastic attitude. You are a real treasure. 🙂💌👩‍🏫

---

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  Like weather seasons, WE HAVE LIFE SEASONS.

Try to enjoy what you can as YOUR LIFE SEASON changes.

Like Winter, we have all experienced a winter in the form of our version of Winter (grief).

So sorry for YOUR LOSS & know things will fall in place. NEVER give up on seeking peace in the midst of your Winter (grief).

Luv,

Nicole  ‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌  (Grief Forum)

[mc6844]

Nicole, so nice to see you here. I haven't dropped by in some time. Except grief is always with us  Trying to enjoy what we can is a great reminder. There are so many challenges it's easy to forget wonderful places such as this. Where people just, know. I hope all on the forum are well as can be. Take care!

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  IT IS ALWAYS so good to hear from you dear MC @mc6844 !!!

Yes dear friend, I feel grief will always be with us but as we keep MOVING FORWARD, we will be able to ENJOY the luv ones who are still here.

Too many times I was "distant" with my only child. Bottom line she now has ONE PARENT & still "needs" me. Lol, my age 30+ baby.

Luv,

Nicole. 🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

➡️[*** MC 

---

@mc6844 wrote:

Nicole, so nice to see you here. I haven't dropped by in some time. Except grief is always with us  Trying to enjoy what we can is a great reminder. There are so many challenges it's easy to forget wonderful places such as this. Where people just, know. I hope all on the forum are well as can be. Take care!

---

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  Stop by when you can to encourage others [respond to THEIR POST]  or ASK FOR SOME.

WE ALL have days/nights when we need this!!!

Luv,

Nicole  ‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌  (Grief Forum)

[mc6844]

I encourage those on the forum to just keep going. Sometimes we have a tough day or sleepless night. Maybe troubled souls cross our path. Or just trying to keep ourselves and lives together during these times. We slowly learn not to present ourselves in a vulnerable manner. And still be loving individuals. Time takes time. We are living in answered prayer.

[Winter2025VA]

‌🕯‌  Well said MC @mc6844 !!! I started counseling last month and glad I did. Found out it is very "healthy" to avoid TOXIC folks. They DRAIN you and keep on going.

Luv,

Nicole. ‌🤗‌‌🤗‌‌🤗‌  (Grief Forum)

‌➡️‌[*** MC 

@mc6844 wrote:
I encourage those on the forum to just keep going. Sometimes we have a tough day or sleepless night. Maybe troubled souls cross our path. Or just trying to keep ourselves and lives together during these times. We slowly learn not to present ourselves in a vulnerable manner. And still be loving individuals. Time takes time. We are living in answered prayer.

[dw53874168]

I lost my husband of 49 years in February.  It’s been 6 months now & it just isn’t getting better. I cry every night. I stay so busy during the day just so I don’t think about it. 

[l124289r]

I am not convinced "tis better to have loved and lost . . . " but I do envy you and others their long relationships. I have never married, lost my career, was diagnosed with debilitating illnesses, lost my financial security, lost my lifestyle, lost access to passionate pursuits, lost productive occupation, lost my friends, and lost close family connections. I think it would have been rewarding to have a long-term romantic relationship but it would also be one more loss on my "pile." Getting out from under all that has been almost impossible and I actually just try not to lose more. Unfortunately, now I cling to "things" which cost little to maintain and accept me as I am -- at any given moment! After over 20 years of these changes, I still yearn for the life that I felt I was just building and then the rejection and disregard of people I have cared about. Since I turned 65 this month, I would like to accept and finally let go of how I wanted my life to be. What I have is pathetic to me and has been unacceptable but none of my attempts to improve circumstances has worked. I feel that I have no choice but to shut down and give up every little strand left of my past. But since no substitutions have worked either, I feel like a black hole just closing down, collapsing into myself. If not for my dog . . . . 

[SereneSeagull]

Hi, your post touched me.  I don’t know if I have any words that would comfort you, but I do want to tell you that I read your post and I’m sorry for the things that are so overwhelming for you.

What kind of dog do you have?

 I’m a cat person, myself.  Although our cat is not a dog, we try and teach it tricks!  It knows many words, but the best is when we say “squirrel”, he’ll come dashing in the room eager to see it from the window!   

Pets can be a great comfort.  I think many times more than people, if that makes any sense.  I hope your precious dog brings you comfort and love as well.  They can sense we need something too!

[mc6844]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband. 49 yrs is a long time. I'm so glad you're stopping in at this forum. There are good people here who have gone through and experiencing what you're going through. Each time you're here you can leave a bit of grief and hopefully feel a little lighter. For those of us who were married young and/or in long relationships we learn new ways of doing things.  A counselor is a good idea. If you're not up to in person then there are online options. It's great that you're teaching out on this forum. The focus is on grief.  This helps us not to ignore our grief. Please take care!

[Winter2025VA]

🕯@dw53874168 , I am so sorry for your loss dear friend!!!

IF you have any "questions" we do have two totally AWESOME AARP Experts who stop by to SUPPORT us. Jane @JaneCares & Amy @agoyer have also lost people they cared about.

WE are here whenever you NEED us ALWAYS.

Luv,

Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

➡️[*** 

---

@dw53874168 wrote:

I lost my husband of 49 years in February.  It’s been 6 months now & it just isn’t getting better. I cry every night. I stay so busy during the day just so I don’t think about it. 

---

[CeciliaH401383]

I’m so sorry for your loss. My husband and I were married for 52 years when I lost him on Thanksgiving almost 6 years ago. The pain is still there, but it’s manageable, and changes. We just keep doing one day at a time. Some are really hard still, but some are ok too. I’m lucky to have good friends, and family nearby. I hope you have someone who is a willing ear. Two of my closest friends are also widows, and I find it easier to be open with them, because they understand. 

[Winter2025VA]

🕯  Cecilia @CeciliaH401383 , I am sorry for your "loss" dear friend!!! And thanks for stopping by to SUPPORT @dw53874168 . This means ALOT to us. Taking 1 step at a time, sitting as needed (those ROUGH moments) has helped me. Also ENJOYING the "peaceful moments" when they arrive.

Luv,

Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

➡️[*** CECELIA 

---

@CeciliaH401383 wrote:

I’m so sorry for your loss. My husband and I were married for 52 years when I lost him on Thanksgiving almost 6 years ago. The pain is still there, but it’s manageable, and changes. We just keep doing one day at a time. Some are really hard still, but some are ok too. I’m lucky to have good friends, and family nearby. I hope you have someone who is a willing ear. Two of my closest friends are also widows, and I find it easier to be open with them, because they understand. 

---