WillThink4Wine

It was a lovely Christmas morning. Me, my SisterDears and brothers were joyfully opening our gifts. Later in the day we were having a large family gathering, my favorite kind of Christmas! Nana Gert, Auntie Jeanne and her family were coming to have Christmas dinner with us. I had crocheted a peach-colored scarf and hat for Nana and I couldn’t wait for her to open  it!! It was going to be a most wonderful Christmas Day!

I had just opened a gift. It was a brand new 45 that I’d been wanting so badly, Precious and Few by Climax.

The phone rang and MotherDear answered. I heard the most mournful sound come from her mouth. Nana Gert had died during the night at Auntie Jeanne’s. She had fallen asleep in the rocking chair, knitting a last minute gift for somebody. The doctor said she had likely fallen asleep and had a stroke during the night. She never knew anything.

The rest of that day is just a blur, the only other thing I remember from that day is that I went downstairs to the basement and spent the entire day and long into the night crying my heart out. I played that 45 over and over and over again. I literally wore it out, remembering my Nana and missing her so badly it was physically painful.

It was the first time in my life that I realized that I had to treasure each moment with somebody who I love. From that moment, I am always mindful that it might be my last opportunity to share time with them. Because none of ever knows when the last moment in time may come.

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Visit here if you’d like to do your own Message in a Bottle, you do not have to be tagged. I chose to combine mine with a post because Nana Gert was my inspiration for my Message.

Tags: Family, Gatherings, Holidays, Music, Nana Gert, Simple Pleasures, Thought for the Day

I personally do not know anybody who has actually had an amicable divorce, as I did. Mr. X and I remain friends, albeit distant (we don’t even live in the same state anymore). In fact, my parents still miss him, especially my Dad.

After dating 5 years, I married my high school sweetheart. We certainly thought it would be As the years passed, we did less and less together, each following our own hobbies and pastimes. Soon, we even developed separate friends. Eventually we began taking separate vacations. During those last few years, we essentially shared morning coffee and the occasional supper.

Thirteen years ago, after 21 years of marriage, we decided to go our separate ways. We spent our last night together crying and hugging each other all through the night. Loving each other was never our problem. We did not hire attorneys. We did not fight over possessions. Because we were not fortunate enough to be able to have children, there was no child-custody issue. We harbored no ill-will towards the other. Total cost of our divorce? $120.00.

We each hugged and said goodbye to our oldest and dearest friend outside the courthouse. We wished each other health and happiness. It remains the single hardest thing I have ever done.

Mr. X has since remarried, this time to someone who shares many of his interests. He is now “Grandpa” to his step-daughter’s son. He is happy.

While I have remained single, I am quite content with my life. I’m not saying that I will never remarry, but I rather doubt it. I’ve gotten very ’settled’ and quite used to having everything exactly as I like it.

So Mr. X, be well. Oh, and Dad says “hi”.

Cheers to you!

Tags: Mr X, Music, Wine