**taps keyboard ** Is this thing on?

Like the Marvel blip, it would seem like I’ve disappeared for 5 years. I’m still here.  Life has still been life-ing. I’ll catch you up on some news. And then, if you’re still in, let’s start where we are.  

My family and I said goodbye to Bojangles, our beloved 13-year-old furbaby, a year ago. Even though we knew his heart was failing, our hearts still broke in the emergency room. He was such a good boy. I can still hear the clicking of his paws on the kitchen tile. I miss his barking and crashing through the blinds when the doorbell rings. Recently, the clanging of stainless steel bowls reminded us of the way Bo used to tap on his dog bowl when he needed water. I still can’t disassemble his crate filled with all the toys that he could bring to me by name. But I’m working on it.

The “kids” have moved into their own spaces. It gets harder to get together as a full family unit, but I’m grateful for FaceTime and daily texts.  As a stay-at-home mom, there was no retirement party when the job was done. Just the constant question in my head:  what is next?

I’m not alone, though.  Del, my husband, is still here by my side.  What happens when you remove kids, work, house repairs, family gossip, and sports out of the conversation? What do you talk about? It’s challenging. We’ve become comfortable with silence. But it’s also interesting to explore this next stage.

Now, with 60 right around the corner, I’ll write about my journey to feeling mentally and physically better.

I’m back.