It's been a while, hasn't it

[smabify]

So. Here I am again.

Five years, three months, 3 days ago, my love died, resting in my arms. I didn't loose him; he's not a pen I errantly tossed in a strange corner, never to be found again. He died.

 

I've been absent from this place for a while now. Many of us have, I think. Once in a while I read. Those who walked before me, of those who followed after. All our stories. So very different, and yet so many similar elements. All of us so different, all of us coming to seek some sort of connection, searching for the people who truly understand the terrible path we now walk alone.

 

I think back to the first months when I found the YWBB forum. Those were the times when I was yelling out into a deep void. When I finally found that page, it felt like someone heard me and could yell back, for the first time in months.

 

My greatest find was definitely the chat room. Wonderful people, ready to lend a listening ear, immediate response to any question or emotion you were carrying on that particular day.

 

My virtual friends. Seasoned veterans, such as Donna, Maureen, Karen, and dear sweet Leslie. A Scottish army man, who voluntarily leapt out of airplanes. He found love, and we in the room witnessed (and vetted!) many of the moments. Jo and Kirby, who found each other over time. Rob who brought the music (and the sarcasm!) Mark with his cars, Lynn with her stripper pole, Sarah tossed pillows and Shiela even threw a goat a few times.

 

I cannot say enough about these people. They were there to talk me off a ledge. They were with me when my oldest daughter almost died in the hospital. They were witness when my second was pronounced cancer feee.

 

We were the wid army. Music trivia, drinking nights, iPod shuffle, encouraging new romances, rejoicing over milestones and upholding through rough patches - we did it all together.

 

Slowly, we have drifted apart. Some have moved on. New romances, new routines, actual people as friends, a whole host of different reasons. And yet, if we were to 'meet' again, I suspect it would be just the same. Helping one another. Reaching out. Being silly to forget about life for a while, and then turning on a dime to offer complete and utter support to the one who was falling.

 

I met my best friend in this group. A woman who is my umbrella when it rains over me, who shares her heart with no strings. We have never met in person (obviously the world would implode if we did), but we are connected. It is wonderful to have someone understand your situation so well. I cherish her friendship, and her unrelenting quest to make sure I and my minis are doing ok.

 

So to all you new folk out there, I say don't give up. Use these boards. Vent, celebrate, connect. Use the amazing chat room. Tell people that you are going on it! Join the Facebook group if you like - sometimes that's an even better way to connect (it has notifications). Or if you are not a hermit like me, meet with actual real people.

 

My point is connect. Not all the time, though that goes in cycles too, but whenever you need to. Make yourself an army. Join a wid gang. Find people who get it, who will support you no matter what. And be sure to do the same for them. We all need it!

 

/steps off soapbox and ambles into the distance

[Needytoo]

Beautiful, thank you.

[momtokam]

"I met my best friend in this group. A woman who is my umbrella when it rains over me, who shares her heart with no strings."  Me as well! 💜🤗

 

[MR]

:P