Still A Wonderful Life

 "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives, and when he isn't around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he? Clarence Oddbody; Angel Second Class 

Richard Thomas Moran

  Sept 27, 1979-Sept 23, 2010

I find it hard to believe, but it has been ten years since we lost Rich. And, still, there isn't a day that we don't remember something about him and miss him just as fiercely as ever. I always thought we would have a big party for the tenth anniversary. We would invite everyone we could think of and listen to their stories, and laugh and cry. He would have liked that, and there would be a lot of stories.

Of course, those were pre-Covid plans. Instead, there will be a small gathering with just some of his siblings. I feel sad that we can't all be together, but there will be Zoom. Not the same, but that is how a lot of things seem to be handled these days.

I've seen so many changes in the last ten years. If anyone had told me that I would move three times, lose my husband, mother, and brother, walk Bridget down the aisle at her wedding to Matt, help with grief counseling, work at a funeral home, travel to my favorite places, become a House Mom for a  fraternity, and re-connect and marry my wonderful John......Well, I probably wouldn't have believed any of it. I know Rich would have had a lot to say!

                                    

I still have his original "Bucket List" framed. I did the embellishing, after I found it. It sounds so much like him that reading it always makes me smile. He named authors that he wanted to meet, books to read, and places to go. Maybe now he has run with the bulls, and lived in a lighthouse, and talked to Shakespeare about his plays. I hope so.

John and I are blending our families. Between us we have ten children and thirteen grandchildren. We have both lost a son and a spouse.  I am still trying to find places for all the photos! We have been married for nearly a year. In normal times, we would have seen a lot more of  the family. I am looking forward to normal!

So Much Stuff

 I have opened a booth at a local antiques mall. It is just a small space and really can't hold too much. I am paring down little by little and finally hoping to get rid of my storage unit. That sounds great, but what we are really doing is transferring things from mine to his. His was practically empty. Mine had lots of treasures that have been hidden in totes and boxes for five years. Theoretically, if I have not seen something for such a long time, it should be easy to get rid of, shouldn't it?  But that's not how it works for me. I think of every box I open as Christmas coming early. And then I try to put a price tag on it. My sales have been pretty good, but I don't think this is my true calling. Over the years I have been known to buy back items that I had previously let go. I will persevere, because we are in our golden years, and don't really need so much. HaHa. 

                                   

I moved into a house that was filled to the brim with more treasures and memories that aren't my own. It has attics and storage areas all full from many years of happy living and collecting. It isn't always easy, but little by little, I am trying to make it ours. We talk about moving, and have looked at a few houses, but really like this one. I would like to find a house we both love, but so far when we do see a possibility, it sells while we are still thinking about it. We have such a lot to do before we would move, so it may happen, and may not. And in the meantime, we will just keep downsizing.

I am beginning a second blog. At this time, I am not positive why I am having problems with the first one, but it may be time for a new name. I love my Second Story cottage, and this seems like a good time for a name change. After all, I am living my second story everyday. I hope that you will join me.