Oh. My. Goodness. Gracious.
On September 2020, a very sad, lonely, and new widow was clawing at anything and everything to keep afloat. After 32 years of marriage, she was alone in a brand new town. In a dream, it came to her that she should write a little blog to help others. She would call it “Grieving Gardener” . By doing this, she ultimately saved her own life, while amusing others with her words.
That “she” was me.
What a journey it’s been! Walking alone through the wilderness of widowhood isn’t an easy thing to do. With only a little dog at my side, a new road stretched out before me. It was up to me to write my own script and then, star in the leading role. Looking back, some things were hilarious, while other ideas were left by the wayside. Some of you have been there, along for the ride.
My readers were my reason to keep going. Those of you that contacted me if I missed a day here or there will be forever remembered. I chose to get up at 4:30 am for years to let the universe know I was still here, even those my husband wasn’t.
In the beginning, I knew nothing about writing a blog. I didn’t even consider myself a writer. I just remembered something a professor had told me long ago. Don’t worry so much about the grammar and spelling. Just tell the darn story. That’s what I’ve tried to do. Tell the story in the best way that I could.
Through the years, I’ve discovered much about blogging. I’ve learned that no matter how many programs you add to your account, you still need a story to write. I’ve also learned the value of something isn’t in the dollars you earn from it. While finding a place to share the most personal details about losing a best friend and mate of 32 years, I began to find my authentic self. The one that I’d lost track of over the years. Self acceptance was a priceless gift I gained through writing.
In the beginning, I’d squeal if I had ten daily reads. I’d carefully write down IP addresses and look up every one of them , learning where my readers lived. Slowly, without fanfare, I picked up a reader here or there, until, I found I was read in 80 foreign countries.
In my fifth widowed year, I no longer consider myself a Grieving Gardener. These days, I’m Glowing, or Glorious, or just Glad, Always and forever a Gardener, but not Grieving. At some point in the healing process, one accepts. I’ve accepted what is. With that comes peace and a huge amount of comfort. It’s impossible to move forward in life without acceptance and release of the past.
In the midst of widowhood, I met the most wonderful gentlemen who was also a Grieving Gardener. Together, we decided to figure out the rest of our forever. Whatever may come, we’ll make the best of it. If our seedlings fail, we’ll plant again. If the rains come, we’ll share our umbrella. When the worst happens, together, we’ll find our way. Each day, we celebrate our miracle born in the midst of two tragedies.
Today, I celebrate 1,000,000 reads. Although I can no longer track every single read (due to a website malfunction), I’ve averaged the daily reads for the last six months. In doing the math, TODAY is the day to celebrate a huge accomplishment.
It seems like only yesterday I celebrated 250,000 reads with Bible Study friends. I awarded myself the Golden Pencil award and they gifted me a beautiful tiara to commemorate the occasion.
When I reached 500,000 hits, I bought myself the Lego Typewriter Kit. (Something I’d wanted for quite some time. ) I even bought the light kit.
But, 1,000,000 reads?.?.?.?.?.?.
There really isn’t a physical item to mark this milestone. I just want to keep writing life as it unfolds here at Winterpast. It’s celebration enough to share this milestone with all of you on this lovely spring day, May 13, 2024.
You can accomplish anything you put your mind to. It takes patience, perseverance, faith, hope, and a positive frame of mind. If I could make it through the Wilderness to the far away meadow of Wonderful, so can you.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. I couldn’t have done it without you.
More tomorrow.