What the FUCK! I find myself muttering this a lot. There are many reasons why this phrase comes to mind. Over the last 17 months it has become a natural part of my vocabulary. At first it was:

 

WTF is going on?

WTF just happened?

WTF!

 

Then after the first few months it was:

 

WTF and I doing?

WTF am I supposed to be doing?

 

Then as I navigated through the first year without Jerry, I would find random moments when I would think or say, WTF has happened to me, to US! I didn’t really get answers when I uttered these words. I don’t think that I said it because I thought I would actually figure it out.

 

Lately this phrase has creeped back in after a short hiatus. I have been focused on too many things to question how I got here. But as a widow, or anyone going through grief, you know it comes in waves. I feel a fucking tsunami coming…..

 

 

When you’re a widow, there are so many things (I cant even begin to list) that people say to you to try and comfort you. Most of them annoy you, and piss you off even though you know it is coming from a place of love, or just a person who doesn’t know what to say and feels that they need to say something instead of nothing. Most don’t know that just grabbing me and giving me a hug, or telling me something funny about Jerry (if they knew him) is really all I need.

 

But here is something that is continuing to make me say WTF over and over lately. Maybe it is just because I am about to face another wave soon and I can feel it coming. Either way, I am annoyed by it so here goes…

 

When I am speaking to someone about my story, my journey, I tell it with passion, and no tears. I have come to the point where I have told it over and over again and I want people to hear it. I am strong yes, I have accomplished a multitude of things, and overcome many obstacles. When people ask me details of my story, I don’t leave out that it is hard to be this way. But yet…I still am having a WTF moment.

 

Lately, people have been saying to me “look at how much you have done, your story is so heartbreaking and sad, and yet look how you are smiling? Your dating again, your doing so much and doing so well!”

 

WTF!?

 

I know that these things are said out of love for me. But I think the next time someone says that I am going to reply with what they should hear, and not think WTF to myself. I am going to tell them:

 

I am ok because I choose to be, I am dating because I choose to, but when you paint that picture of my state of well being to me is unfair. My choices were to curl up in a ball and check out of life, OR be happy, create it for myself. But here is where your even more wrong….I am never ok. The horrible thoughts that go through my head all day long are exhausting, I am still haunted by horrible images of my husband lying dead in my arms, ALL THE TIME. I replay it over and over….and over in my head, I don’t sleep well and feel like I am constantly fighting a panic attack. I miss him so much that it aches and I can feel it. Some days I DO curl up and take a few hours to cry… but I am DOING all the things I CHOOSE to do because I choose to find a way to be happy. But I am no where near being ok.

 

I think my version of ok is having Jerry back and nothing else seems OK.

 

If you have someone in your life that has lost someone, hug them, share a memory. If you see them doing well, It is ok to acknowledge that, but also acknowledge the grief. Make a point to say, I know this is hard for you, and that all of this isn’t easy. Your doing great, but please know that I am here for when your not doing so great.

 

In the words of one of Jerrys favorites –

Biggie Smalls

 

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Danielle Thompson

Danielle Thompson was born in New York, and moved to North Carolina in 2009 with her husband and two boys. After an incredible job offer for her husband Jerry, they packed up their boys and relocated to California in the summer of 2015. In 2016 around Thanksgiving, her husband Jerry became sick where they found out very quickly that he had a late stage rare liver cancer. Jerry’s battle was short and he passed away in February of 2017. Danielle quickly moved back to North Carolina with her boys who are now 18 and 9 to grieve and heal. Part of her grieving is to share her journey to all that will hear, in hope that it will help someone going through the same thing. Danielle started her own blog early on and shared on social media to friends and family who encouraged her to keep writing. Danielle has met many other widows along her journey so far through her blog, social media groups, and local support groups. Danielle found hearing similar stories, encouraging and leaning on each other is vital on this path. Along with blogging, Danielle has a background in accounting and is currently a licensed Real Estate agent.

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