LIFE GOES ON.............

by Trish Jones
(Chicago, Illinois)

Getting through my anniversary was really tough. Joe always gave me the most awesome cards. He would stand by the Hallmark rack for an hour until he found just the right one. He would then underline key words and sentences, write ~ I love you more than I did last year, sign his name and the date. I missed not getting a card this year but I have all 37 from the previous years.
Yesterday was a really tough day. I received an invitation to my old neighbor's daughter's 50th birthday party. Their daughter was in my sister's bridal party when she married 28 years ago as was I. We had no idea we had purchased a home next door to my sister's best friend's parents. We were very pleased. We had the most wonderful neighbors ever.
Joe and I were forced to sell our home last fall. The University of Chicago informed us that our portion of Joe's heart transplant would be approximately $500,000.00. Sure...do you take Visa? As home owners we didn't qualify for any assistance. We had no choice but to sell our home at no profit. The little bit of money we got went directly to medical bills. You do everything you're supposed to do, keep your credit in stellar condition and get penalized for it. Within a two month period I left my job and the security that went with it, had to put down our beloved pet of 18 years, moved from our home to an apartment and lost my husband. Joe died three weeks after we moved. I hadn't even finished hanging the pictures on the walls.
As I got out of the car every glance indicated that a new family was now living in "my" home. I think my knees buckled a little. I was so happy to see all of our old friends and neighbors. I had 10 people come to me and tell me what a fabulous husband I had. They all told me they miss him too.
I woke up this morning with a depressed feeling like I've never experienced. Bad. Really bad. Then....me cell phone rang. It was my daughter's fiance reminding me I had promised to go the jeweler's with him. I am giving my daughter the 2 carat diamond from my wedding ring. It was with total joy in my heart that I handed my ring to the jeweler. When I saw the look of love on my future son-in-law's face my depression lifted immediately. They will have a yours, mine and ours situation. She has a son from a previous relationship, he has a son and daughter from his first marriage. He is so much like Joe...I love it.
The diamond belonged to my mother-in-law. I got it in a new setting for my 25th anniversary (I guess she thought after 25 years I could be trusted). Passing it on to my daughter is the right thing to do. When my husband first passed the thought of giving up my ring actually nauseated me. Nine months later I know it's the right thing......and.....life goes on.