It's been a minute

It's been a minute...

I feel like January is lasting forever.  This month we've had 21 of 23 nights below freezing in Tennessee, which is really unusual. There was a snowstorm that closed everything down for a few days, followed by temps in the single digits which also closed things down. 

In the midst of all of that, I closed on our house not once, but twice. It's a long story, but I'll just say if anyone is ever considering a loan with the USDA Rural Development Service - do. not. do. it.  

After the holidays are hard - everyone goes back to work, it's cold and the days are short. Sometimes I forget and think that Randy is at session in North Dakota - it was part of our winter routine. Even when he wasn't in session, he was usually back in ND at some point in January for meetings and appointments. I admit I've read the papers to see what the legislature is up to this session, and I even watched the inauguration this week. Randy would be pleased.

There are things I don't watch though. Randy watched The Five every weeknight on Fox News. I don't think I've turned Fox News on since August 13. We also watched Wheel of Fortune after dinner, and then Family Feud. I stopped watching both shows (granted Wheel of Fortune is not the same without Pat Sajak). It's just not the same watching by myself.

I don't think people realize that when you lose someone, you don't just lose the person, you lose your way of life, your daily routine. You lose him a little bit each day, even more so when there's something that you have to now do by yourself. There's no one to wake up to in the morning, no one to make my coffee, no one to eat dinner and watch t.v. with, no one to kiss goodnight at the end of the day. 

Yesterday I received an invitation to the North Dakota Senate's Memorial Service for all legislators who have passed away since the last session. Both the Senate and House will honor Randy's memory that day since he served in both throughout his legislative career. Randy talked to me about that service, and I promised him I would attend. 

5 months, 10 days since you left...some days are better than others. And that's okay. 





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