Rick, I sit here with you on my mind this morning. What shall I write about today?
11 months today since you went away. After 34 years, 7 months, 17 days, and 11 hours - you went away. You left me. You took my breath, my heart. You stole away the music, and my reasons.
I am slowly learning how to breathe again. My heart beats but seems out of time. The music is returning. And the reasons to go on - well, some days I still search for those.
Memories this morning are bouncing around in my head. Flooding my thoughts. Smiles are thru the tears.
--when you got us lost on our way to our wedding night. Going to Lake o' the Pines. We left the church around 10 p.m. - should have been a simple hour drive ... we finally found the motel you had reserved a room at - 1 a.m.!
--the next morning we went to breakfast. The waitress that was snickering when she came to our table. And then, the older lady who came over and quietly told you that you had your shirt on wrong side out. Giggle.
--the times we were in the kitchen together. Music playing. Dancing around. Me cooking - and you snitching every chance you got. The teasing and fussing. The stories we shared.
--You singing to Elvis ... and doing the "hip thing" - making me catch my breath every time.
--us writing the silly little notes to one another, hiding them everywhere. Always trying to "one up" the other one. I found all your notes to me after you left - and I put them into a journal. I sometimes take that journal and snuggle with it. Thinking about you. Missing you.
--the times you would come in the house, tell me to put my shoes on, and you would take me by the hand - lead me outside, and into one of the vehicles. You would get in and start driving. Me asking you where we were going - you knew that drove me crazy! You would just smile and drive. Usually back country roads ... until you found a tree that was amazing in size and strength ... or a rose bush in full bloom - and you would steal a rose bud for me ... or you would drive until we found that out of the way general store, for a coke ... a cafe that you were certain had pie ...
--the midnight runs on the motorcycle. Wake me up at midnight - get up, and get dressed. It's a full moon night - time for a bike ride. We would ride until the sun started coming up.
--when we were so broke we couldn't find 2 pennies ... and you would come home from work with a Dr Pepper for me. Because someone on your route had given it to you, but you would't drink it ... bringing it home to me. I would take 2 of our prettiest glasses, and share it.
--sitting on the swing late into the night talking about our future.
--sitting on the tailgate of the pickup under the stars, asking questions that we had no answers for.

And you know what I miss the most this morning?
Remember when I would get stressed out with life, just with all of life?
You stand there - open your arms - and say ... Oh baby, come here.
I would walk into your arms.
You folded me up in your arms, held me against your chest.
And you would always say the same thing ...
"it's going to be all right. we are going to make it thru this -- together."

Damn! I miss being held.  Just to be gathered and held.

I love you Rick ... thank you for all the memories ...
the smiles ...
even the tears.
Just to know that I was loved once in my life.
​Loved once - for 34 years, 7 months, 17 days, and 11 hours.
I love you today ... always and forever.
Your Sunny.