Hello again SL community. I have been away for a at least two years and probably longer. My join date was 2010, so I had been around for awhile before taking a break. Yesterday while being fed up with Facebook, I searched to see if you were still here, and there you were! Old friends carrying on as I remember. It was good seeing some of those familiar names.
To catch you up on what has happened in my life, or the most impacting event, is a sad one. Two years ago on April 21st, my husband passed away. No warning whatsoever. He got up as usual that morning early to feed the cats, I heard a loud crash and by the time I ran from the bedroom to the kitchen he was unresponsive and in seconds/minutes, not breathing. When I talked to his doctor some time later he said, in his opinion, that he was "gone before he hit the floor". What a shock! We had been married since 1969, and it was always just the two of us. No children. So, to say my life took a huge change all at once is an understatement.
We both had been followers of the simple living movement for many years, living below our means, carrying no debt etc. so for those principles I was "okay" financially. Not wealthy by any means, but our lifestyle had prepared me to adjust and work with what I had with no big jolt to my day to day living.
Grief is such a horrible thing to live with I can't imagine doing that while worrying that I can't pay my rent, utilities, etc. on top of it.
I know this is a rambling conversation, but I didn't want to jump in without reintroducing myself and catching you up on what has happened while I have been away. I am looking forward to being a part of the community again.