Another blog? Oh dear.

Who, me… blog? The idea is intimidating. After all, there are so many interesting, informative and readable blogs out there already. So then, why start… and why now?

The answer is simple: I'm starting over. Again. And, oh boy, am I tired of starting over. So maybe — OK, definitely — it is also time to examine, possibly to reinvent, the way I live. And this time, starting over is different for other reasons. My children are grown, happily married and involved in careers they enjoy. I love them dearly, but they have their own lives in nearby states. And I am rapidly approaching the joyous day when I can retire. So this time it's about what makes me happy and not so much about caring for others or caring what they think about my choices. Hmmm… there are real possibilities here, right?

There is nothing new about breaking with the past, nor is my reason to begin again unusual. My husband, K., died earlier this year. He was a kind, intelligent and very dear man, but he had been sick for a long time and was in constant pain; his life has ended in the only way it could. My faith tells me he is at peace, and there is comfort in that knowledge. The process of grieving is not new to me, and I know the many levels of understanding and acceptance will continue to unfold as time passes. While I am often sad, I accept that changes need to take place. What other decision would make any sense?

Really, you know, there is only one way to honor the past and to move on with your own life. You put a smile on your face, open the door and go out to meet people and try new things. Along the way, you discover new activities and new friends to complement the parts of your life you still have and love. And, if you are lucky as well, joy will find you.

With all this in mind, my blog will be, I hope, a voyage of discovery and rediscovery.  It will be about experiences and travel and friendships. And it will be about the gentle surprises that unfold in front of us if we are watchful and aware.

Oh yes… I am thinking of getting a dog. (It can be very dangerous to drop off old towels at the animal shelter… and this is such a sweet dog…) Adding a dog to my quiet home would, heaven knows, fall squarely under the heading of "major change" overnight, especially as all the shelter dogs I see are listed as "Housebroken: Unknown." Stay tuned!