YOUNG WIDOWS

This is what I posted on clickgirl (Brenda's) site about my dream of writing an inspirational book about women who became widows far too young.

Brenda and Jackie! This is absolutely amazing! You can definitely count me in on whatever comes from this. I have always wanted to travel, but like Chandra, couldn't find friends who had the either the time and/or the money to join me. Also, I've always been afraid that if I gave up the security of my teaching position to do what I really wanted, I'd end up homeless.

This whole adventure has been so eye opening to me. I realize now that life is too short to not try to realize our dreams. Besides travel, my dream has been to write. From meeting so many wonderful women through Richard's search, I am now working on making my dream come true.

I am going to spend the next few months working on the financial aspects of ending my teaching career and beginning a new one writing. I have been thinking of all the women I met who became widows very young in life (between the ages of 40ish and 60ish) and I would like to write an inspirational book of surviving one of the worst tragedies a woman can imagine. Losing your husband at an age where you are too young to be relegated to the back pew of the church but too old to easily meet suitable or available men is more than difficult. No, we do not NEED a man, but most of us really do want to have someone to love and someone to love us. It is just simply in our nature.

We are all survivors. Most of us have had to raise our children alone. Most of us have had to work full time while doing so. Some of us have had support (financial and/or emotional) and some of us not.

All these years, I thought I was one of a very few young widows and in a category of my own. Now I realize that is not true. If I can help one young widow through my dream of writing about "our" survival, it will all have been worth it.

I've never done this before, but am willing to learn all aspects of writing and publishing in order to realize this dream. Maybe you, Brenda, have some ideas of how to go about this (since you're in the media environment). Maybe we could eventually do a documentary. Something. Anything. We need to get this story out.

Regarding divorcees. I know that they have gone through or do go through a lot of the same grieving processes that widows do. But I have no experience of that. Let me try to do this one project and if it's successful, maybe I could do something similar for you.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has lost her husband from accident, illness, violence, or suicide (like I did), was in the age range I mentioned above, and would like to take part in this venture. I would use pseudonyms so as to make it easier to tell your story fully. Please contact me through my blog. Thanks to all.

10/22/2005 11:05 PM

Bear Creek Park

On Wednesday, October 19th, my Grade 4s participated in a cross-country run at Bear Creek Park near to our school. Our school won the overall trophy and my Grade 4 boys won the trophy for all the Grade 4 boys who participated (a lot of schools). I am so proud of them all. I would love to post a photo of "my kids" but it wouldn't be appropriate, so I thought I'd just post a couple of shots of the creek in the area where they ran - along the trail around the park and through the trees with all the changing colours of Fall. It is a beautiful location.

Also, here's a photo of me and my Dad on my birthday. Notice at almost 85, there's not a grey hair on his head, although his forehead has grown a bit higher over the years.

PUMPKIN LOAF

Mix the following ingredients - IN ORDER - and then fold into a well-greased 9 X 5 inch loaf pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 80 minutes.

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinammon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
3/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup oil (Crisco or Mazola)
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts OR pecans

BON APPETIT!