So happy for you, Jan.

{{{hugs}}}

Thank you, too, Jan - and everyone here. Very much. You've all been comfort and companionship for me, as well... it's nice to have the mecha hearth to warm one's hands at. The island/castle may be virtual, but there's always someone to play with in the Fun Room, and someone cooking in the kitchen, and someone telling stories by the fireplace. So, "yay!" and if these US/UK ♥ connections keep happening, we're going to have to add an airline to our list of mecha properties.

I was just thinking about you! You're completely right, new things and new opportunities happen all the time and it's importyant to be in the headspace to enjoy them. huge hugs

.....and a LITTLE frisson, now who're you kidding!

The old saying "this too shall pass" sometimes seems a bit trite and glib. It's true, though - when enough time has passed that you have worked through the bad feelings, you come out the other side if you let things happen naturally. If you choose to stay in the quagmire of despair, you can do that too. If you try and force yourself to get over grief, you never do. I'm really glad you have decided to come out the other side. That day in June could be your day of awakening. Embrace it.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}

*hugs ej*

Dec. 24th will be two years for me. I am amazed at your ability to get through this, and agree, there's no getting over it. It's there every day.
All the best to you.

.....and a LITTLE frisson, now who're you kidding!

Well, yeah, a frisson turned into HMS with the MO.

*blushes*

Wow, that's rough. I'm glad to hear that you've been able to move on with your life, though.

Jan, I heard this on the radio today and thought of you straight away.
I know lots of people diss Ashlee Simpson but Beautifully Broken will always say Jan to me from now on!

You're an inspiration sweetie, thank you for everything.

(((warm & fuzzy thoughts)))

I am very happy for you jan. I can't think of a person who more deserves some joy in life.

*idly wondering how many mecha couplings there have been. I can think of 3 (no names) but there are probably more*

I was introduced to you through that post and it's been really amazing to follow your story. You've gone from that stranger on the internet I felt so bad for to my friend on the internet that I'm so happy for.
Hugs to you and hopes for more great surprises to come.

essexjan, I read your post about George's death a while ago after I "met" you here on Metachat. It's a heartbreak. I'm so glad you are doing well and are happy.

I'm also glad to have Metachat friends. It's such a pleasant, inspiring place. Hugs to you essexjan, you're a great person.

That thread was a very moving tribute, essexjan. You two were both lucky to have found each other. Here's to healing and new horizons!

I love you so! :-D

Jan, it makes me so happy to hear the hope in your words.

Aww, jan.
::hugs::

I was talking to my mom last night, about my father's death 5 years ago. She's a psychologist, and said that Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who introduced the whole 5 stages of grief thing, had, later in life, more-or-less retracted the whole thing. Mom said, and I agreed, that the stages seem more to be a convenient way to deal with other people's grief, not one's own, really; it can be helpful to an outsider to say "oh, she's just going through the Anger phase," but it's not terribly helpful to the one who's grieving.

That's been absolutely true with my dad's death. How can one ever get over such a thing? Even something so inevitable, and, in my dad's case, clearly foreseen and anticipated, is just devastating.

George wouldn't have wanted me to be unhappy or to live in sackcloth and ashes.

That's the key, isn't it? That's what you can hold onto, as you live and love and experience new joys with new people. I'm continually saying to myself "Oh, Dad would've liked this" or "I wish Dad could've seen me do that," but the best I can do is to live on and try to honor his memory.

This year was the first that I totally forgot the anniversary of my dad's death, and, by God, I truly believe he would have wanted it that way.

((jan))

"My experience is that I can't 'get over' or 'get round' pain, I have to go through it in order to come out the other side with my sanity intact." I can echo that and the fact that friends, even the imaginary one on the Internets, help a lot.

It is great to hear that things are getting better.

Hugs, essexjan!

(((essexjan))) You deserve every little bit of happiness that comes your way.

My belief is that the pain doesn't lessen or go away - you just learn to deal with it.

I'm glad things are better, and that the color has come back into your life.

((((essexjan)))))
I'm glad the pain has lessened, and that the sweet memories remain. I'm glad you've found your feet again, because no one deserves to be happy more than you.