You should be turning 57 today, Russ. It’s not fair that there are STILL people walking the face of this planet who don’t deserve to be here, and yet you, and Jimmy Buffett, and others, didn’t get more time. We only got to celebrate two birthdays together for both of us, but you’ve been gone … Read More
Yesterday marked 32 weeks since “that” day and tonight I broke down in my kitchen while trying to scan in old photos from albums Russ’ siblings loaned to me. I was okay, at first. … Read More
I left Florida around 3pm Friday afternoon and rolled (literally) into Iowa around 1:30pm the next day. Last night was Russ’ niece’s graduation. Today, I went with his siblings and other family to visit their parents’ graves. Then they drove me past their childhood home, and we stopped to get pictures. Well, the owner was … Read More
Mostly packed for my trip to Iowa. I’ll finish the rest in the morning. Then I pick up the rental car and I’ll be on my way by early afternoon. This is going to be… Lots of tears, I’m sure. It’s not fair Russ isn’t here to do this. I can’t believe it’s been 7 … Read More
I got Russ to try boiled peanuts for the first time that last weekend. LOL He was not impressed. And I forgot what was left in his fridge. Amalie Arena is where the Jimmy Buffett concert was held that we were going to in December. 🙁 I don’t understand… Correction, I STILL cannot process I … Read More
One year ago. I took these selfies of us one year ago, Russ. It was not only a great evening with friends who I finally got to introduce you to after a year of pandemic isolation, but it was also the 1-year anniversary of when I collared you. You’d already long before collared me too, … Read More
On the way home from Viking training this morning I flipped my music over from my phone to XM, on Radio Margaritaville. Was talking to Russ and asked him to send me some songs. But it was in the middle of one of RM’s “Buffett Buffets,” an hour where they play nothing BUT JB songs. … Read More
21 weeks later. … Read More
On Saturday, 3/5/22, friends of mine and Russ’ and my Spouse (Barb) who are in the lifestyle gathered together for a celebration of life for Russ at the BDSM club we volunteer at. I created a slideshow, and this is the text of the eulogy I wrote and read for him. It’s not exactly a … Read More
“Why do you HAVE to keep writing about Russ? We get it, he died, but you’re poly and you have a spouse, so it’s not like you’re alone. You’re young. Move the fuck on.” No, I haven’t heard that exact combination of words from any one person but the various versions of that, condensed together, … Read More
It’s weird the stuff grief makes us do, right? The little things we cling to after death rips someone from us? Those of you close to me know all about my quest to duplicate Russ’ laundry smell, and some of you have held me during my meltdowns over the most mundane of things. But those … Read More
14 weeks today since the 911 call, Russ. I know I should stop the morbid counting but it feels like losing yet another piece of you if I do. I did get the rawhide laced onto the second shield, baby. Just need the boss and handle now, and some finishing touches. How is it 14 … Read More
We should be having dinner together tonight, Russ. We should be celebrating. I know you would have taken an extra vacation day so we could do something together, because this is our second anniversary. And last year this time you were on day 2 of your second hospital stay after your picc line got infected. … Read More
Thank you for the outpouring of support. I’m still trying to put one foot in front of the other. Tomorrow (Thanksgiving) will mark four weeks since the day I found that my sweet Viking had joined his Ancestors. I know Russ would absolutely want me to keep putting one foot in front of the other, … Read More
TW: Grief. I realized I didn’t post my initial posts here about my sweet Viking, just the main update. Since Facebook has proven less than…reliable, I don’t want to lose these thoughts and feelings, no matter how raw and painful they are. And in case you aren’t in my Facebook group, you can now read … Read More