Chattering Chipmunk
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 21 seconds
We are all social creatures who desire to converse with others about the mundane and the unique.
One of the most significant losses a widow suffers is the loss of a partner to share the good, the bad, and the ugly that life bestows upon us.
In the early days after Jan died, family and friends would reach out regularly to find out how I managed a male dowager’s chaotic life.
As the days became weeks, months, and years, the number of opportunities to converse diminished faster than a Spring snowstorm melts.
I can go for hours with no one to speak with.
Often I do not notice as I keep myself busy by walking, reading, writing, and sharing Jan’s love.
But when I meet someone, my best efforts at having a dialogue often end up as a monologue.
Words tumble out of my mouth like water over the Falls in Paterson.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, I want to keep talking but fear alienating a friend.
I choke and speak innocuously when asked to tell my widow’s story.
Can I find my voice and speak with passion in day-to-day conversations?
The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.
I receive a commission when you buy a book or product using a link on this page. Thank you for supporting Sharing Jan’s Love blog.
One of the common recommendations that friends make to me is that I should meet more people.
I miss Jan, but I do not feel lonely.
I talk to many people on my walks as well as when I run errands.
These fluctuate between saying to fellow walkers, "Have a nice day," to actual conversations while shopping.<.p>
Yesterday, I conversed with a woman standing next to me in the deli line. The ordering system setup during COVID was causing long delays.
Speaking About Jan's Love
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 21 secondsRichard W. Brown speaks about grief, sharing Jan’s love, and how Hanson Park became the site of Jan’s Memorial Garden.
