Why the hell would I write this blog?

Why did I create this blog?

In the middle of August 2012, my husband and I found out that he has cancer... incurable, inoperable pancreatic cancer & my life has been a sad fog of hospital stays, doctor appointments and fear of what will I do without my best friend. I've decided to create a blog about my experience with the sadness I feel, to have a place to put my feelings, since I cannot afford a shrink and keeping it stuffed inside seems to be making me feel like I'm going to explode.

This is a blog devoted to trying to survive the loss of my husband, and best friend

I don't know why I'm doing it, I'm such a private person - and a big believer in being careful of the TMI, but perhaps I need an overflow valve. So there you have it.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Adrift at sea, alone & lost

I really miss Paul. This giant, gaping hole in my life is so painful. After being together for 25 years I had become very dependent on him and I thought that was OK because he was just as dependent on me. We had evolved into this loving symbiotic relationship that now without him I don't know how to live. Intellectually I know, but emotionally I have no clue. The way we divided up the everyday things was like this: If there was something I didn't like to do, like cleaning or mowing the lawn but Paul didn't mind, or like to do, then it became his job. If there was something he didn't like to do, like cooking or gardening then I did it, since I like cooking and gardening. And so forth. If it was something we both didn't like to do, we did it together.
We had become in sync with each other's thinking. Sometimes we would be sitting there watching TV and would think to myself "we haven't heard from so-and-so lately, maybe we should invite them over"and before I can open my mouth to say it, he would pipe up "we haven't heard form so-and-so lately, maybe we should call them and see if they want to come over". When our cat showed up and decided to stay we were trying to think of a name for her. One evening when I got home from work, she came bounding across the yard and hopped up on the fence to follow me to the door, I thought "Here comes trouble!"and I thought that would be a good name for her. When I walked into the door, and said hello to Paul, I told him I thought of a name for the cat, and before I said it he said "How about Trouble?"
Being so connected to someone and then losing that person, losing that connection, feels like I lost half of myself, and I've been trying to figure out how live without that support, that connection - it is very lonely.
I feel like we were in a boat, rowing together the waters of life, and now he is gone, I am in this boat alone, with one oar, paddling in circles, drifting farther and farther out to sea, alone. I don't know how to get back on course and I am tired, so tired.
I am really trying though - not giving up, I hope I have the strength.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Interviews

Looking for a full time job is tough & the interview process has gotten harder since I interviewed 12 years ago. The personality questions really catch me off guard. I should probably go through a list of these questions and study and practice. I always seem to think they will ask me more about my past job experiences, what I did, what I know how to do. Those questions I can answer.
Questions like
What did you like most about your last position? Ok that one is not that hard
What did you like least about your last position? This one is hard, because it's basically asking you to be negative, which seems counter productive.
What are you most proud of? That one is hard for me, especially after all these years of working. I don't keep a list, or gloat. I'm glad when I have a good day, when things go well, and the end result is a satisfactory one. Each day is a new day with new challenges.   :::shrug:::
Do you consider yourself a leader or follower?
I hate that question because I don't like the concept of leader and follower. Especially since follower has become a negative connotation. But what good does it do to have too many chiefs? To me I like the idea of a team. Some people are the organizers & motivators, but everyone is important and I've served in both roles and have no problem with one or the other. Probably the big thing I would trouble with being a "Leader" would be if I was expected to "keep people in line" Which if we are all adults, shouldn't be needed.
Drives me crazy.
Plus, I've gotten comments on several interviews that the position doesn't entail a lot of design, even though they advertised for a designer, they really just want someone who knows how to use the design programs to put things together. Well the reason people learn design programs is so that they can design. Hmmm...
Unfortunately I have no Paul here to share all this with.