On the first of the year, I decided that I no longer wanted to be identified as "that old grieving widower" and began my new 'normal' life, without Terri (but with her looking down and guiding me all the way....she usually was right)

I also adopted a dog, a 6 yr old, 80 lb Husky-Chow-Pit- Shepard that I call Buddy...my buddy. He is well behaved, loves attention (so do I), and is training me well.

I also, recently, was offered the opportunity to be a moderator on the 'death of a spouse' board. I consider this to be an honor and I agreed. I have found, over the past several years, that I really enjoy helping people. This was also Terri's wish, she wanted, when she recovered, to be a volunteer to other cancer patients.

I do have an agenda...to help those in grief, to understand their grief, to help them realize they are not alone, and to, perhaps, show that there is a tunnel, with a light in it, somewhere, and that they are able to return to a new 'normal' life, granted without their loved one, but a life where there is happiness.

A new year, a new beginning along the path of life.