37 Days

I think I’m doing a pretty good job of being strong.  I’m a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend and an employee.  I have to get through the days and I have been doing just that. I’ve wanted to write and post more about the loss of my best friend, Meg, but I didn’t want to taint the mission of my blog, which was to live life and ultimately achieve happiness. Certainly, my readers would be tired of the tears and as hard as it is to sometimes discuss, death is part of life.  A friend shared with me today, when I was discussing my concern over my post topics with her, said, “happiness isn’t static, there are always going to be ebbs and flows.” She encouraged me to continue with my post–and understood my need for sharing my feelings with a virtual community. “Maybe your post will help one person, maybe it will help two, maybe it will help hundreds but at the end of the day, writing and posting will certainly help you.”

–So grab a tissue, or two–

Written: January 21, 2018, Posted January 24, 2018

To Meg:

It’s been 37 days since I lost you. Since you left this earth for heaven. Is that where you are? Not a day goes by that I don’t think about you and as days do they have continued to go on.

Do you know what? The fear that I had, that fear that I wouldn’t know how to navigate life without you–it is still ever so present, except the fear is masked–the fear is hidden behind my smile, inside my head, inside the lie of “I’m doing okay,” which is what I tell others when they ask, “how I am?”  I thought for a moment that the fear was subsiding. That my grief of losing you was getting easier each day, it wasn’t getting easier it was just getting pushed down as life was creeping back in.  


The worst thing about death is just that, death. It’s final, there is no undoing. For the living, those that have loved and lost, we have to move forward. For us, the minutes and hours keep coming. They don’t stop just because we’re grieving.

I’ve had to move forward one minute, one hour, one day, one week at a time. Since as we know, even when someone dies, the moon rises and falls each day, the world still turns and rotates around the sun. We have to get up every day and cross things off our personal to-do lists. In my life, the past 37 days have been busy, I haven’t had time to fully process the loss of you. How do you do that when you have to be present in life?

Life continues, birthdays come, holidays come, the year ends, a new year begins, new jobs are started, school begins again, sports start again, carpools, playdates, work trips, personal trips, manicures, eyebrow waxing, grocery shopping, tv, date nights, target runs–the daily grind.

I tried to add in some happiness, a staycation in the city for NYE,  Tot Shabbat and Ice Skating with your family, date nights with hubby, and family game nights.  Caleb lost his third tooth and I majorly #momfailed the tooth fairy game. The joy of every day is slowing creeping its way in and I am welcoming it with open arms. But, as quickly as the good comes in, is as quickly as it went out. More death and sadness loomed for our family as hubby’s uncle passed away suddenly, as did my mother’s best friend. I was thrust back to the cemetery where we buried you just 35 days before, and to face head on that attending a funeral for a dear friend of my mother’s and our family, who also lost her battle to cancer, was just too soon.

In a few days, I’ll be celebrating my birthday. It will be the first one in at least ten + years that we won’t celebrate together.  That I won’t get a call from you.  That we won’t go out for a girls night. That you won’t post one of your photo collages on my Facebook Page.  

This, unfortunately, is life. This is the dirty, ugly side of life that people don’t talk about or post about on Facebook. This is real. This is the reality. So I write this message on the 37th day, saying the things that people don’t talk about. I promise I’m not sad all the time. Caleb and hubby need me, they need to see me healing and happy. I pray that 37 days from now, life will begin to feel a bit more balanced and maybe just maybe a bit more magical.

XOXO,

Amy

14 thoughts on “37 Days”

  1. Gmail says:
    Reply

    I know that I have said this to you before, it’s not that you are pushing thoughts down or away, but rather you learn to live with the facts of life. The pain that you feel will go away, and you will adjust your life. Right now, you take it one day at a time. Believe me that even after 20+ years there are times that I want to dial the phone and speak with your Grandmother or my roommate Gary. You will get through it.

    Love,

    Dad

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  2. ELLEN Trauten says:
    Reply

    Amy, as I struggled to fall asleep I stumbled across your post. Tears came to my eyes as I read 37 days. I dont count days I count Thursdays since Meghan passed. I look for cardinals, there have only been two. But I see her every time I look at precious Hannah Faye. Her smile, laugh the way she says, “Oh nuts!” I read this the other day and thought, this is me. “My love for her is greater than my grief.” Give it sine thought. It’s helping me.

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    • Amy Alexander says:
      Reply

      You are amazing Ellen. The tears for me have been coming more frequently, as the reality of her not coming back is apparent.
      I’ll certainly be on the lookout now for Cardinals. I saw one not too long ago, certainly after she had passed. Maybe she was flying by for a visit.
      One day I think that quote will hold true. XO

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  5. Linda Iser says:
    Reply

    I put off reading your blog article for a few days, because I didn’t want to cry and knew it would be a sad one. After Meghan’s death and the very recent death of my dear friend Dorinne, I have been trying to push down the sadness and get back to normal life. But I too, have found myself just being “off” and the sadness and grief are ever present. Life at times is pretty crappy and unfair! But I know, getting back in to the game of life is important too!

    I think the first time you are touched by death of someone that you love so much, is the hardest, for me it was your grandmother, Glady. Not that any other deaths of dear friends and family are any less painful, but the reality is that is does get easier and less painful as time goes on but you will always remember all the good times you had together. And I agree with what your friend said about ebbs and flows, so true.

    But that agonizing feeling that this is reality, that the person is really gone, that you can’t just pick up the phone for a chit-chat or make plans or do any of the normal thing you would do is so hard to bear. That’s the really hard part!

    I feel you do a fabulous job of balancing all of life’s “to do” lists! I love that you are so eloquently writing this blog from your heart! I love you and I’m so proud of you and look forward to celebrating “you” on your Birthday this weekend! ❤️❤️❤️Mom

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  7. Jamie says:
    Reply

    I am fortunate to have a Dear Friend like this myself. The exception is I lost my husband young with Cancer, and she also lost her husband suddenly. I want you to know each day does get better, but different. Its Ok to be sad, but remember is this what she would have wanted you to be. She would want you to move forward enjoy your life, because we are all here only once and it does come fast. I would feel the same way if my friend would not be here, because she is everything to me and always will be. We will all see our friends, relatives, husbands, wife’s again, but until then enjoy what you have and smile everyday because that is what she would want you to do. Take the next 37 days one day at a time and I promise you will feel better. You’ll never forget her, but the memories you have from her will be so much stronger. Take care!

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    • Amy Alexander says:
      Reply

      Jamie, Thank you so much for your kind truthful words. You are so right and I know that she would not want me to be sad. I am so sorry for the loss of your husband and your friend’s husband. How awful. You girls are certainly super lucky to have each other and to get through life together. Cancer is a *itch. I appreciate you reading and commenting. -XO, Amy

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