MY MARRIED LIFE IN PHOTOS

This is my husband and myself when we were happy—-***********************************

I’m married in the above photo. The pose is one of contentness as I surround myself with flowers in full bloom.  My son-in-law took the photo at Michael’s surprise 65th birthday party—before the overhead sun, before the heat of the day, before the  cancer entered our lives.  .  . . . . . . . . .   

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This is me when I became a grandmother for the first time . . . . 

Kai Christopher Ehlen, born December 9, 2006

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This is my man who loved to cycle . . . .

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This is my husband before his freefall with cancer . .  .

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I’m still a married woman enjoying life with her husband . . . .  

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This is a portrait of our love. Michael wanted photos of us after he recovered from his surgical procedure—the Transhiatal Esophagectomy. It’s the holiday season. We are happy to be together. . . . . . . . .

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Here’s a photo of me standing tall on a large rock looking across the Pacific Ocean, not seeing anything but blue water foaming as the waves peak and head my way. I’m feeling strong and resilent as I inhale the ocean air. I’m alone because Michael couldn’t walk down the steps to the water.  I bring back my treasures: a child’s bucket of sea shells, a golf ball, and one black flip flop with pink sequins.  (Laguna Beach 2010) . . . . . . .  

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Michael has come to grips with the reality of his illness. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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This is my youngest daughter kissing her stepdad goodbye . . .

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This is my oldest daughter loving her stepdad . . . . . . . . 

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These are my two best friends, Carol, who helped me take care of my husband, and Michael. Carol flew in from Pennsyvania and moved in with us until he died.

Carol and I took long walks together, shopped together, cooked together. Carol and I cried and laughed together. Carol and I went to the mortuary and picked out his wooden casket. Carol stayed with me after he died—until I could be alone . . .  .  . .

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This is a photo of me in love anticipating a great loss . . . .

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This is Michael kissing his grandson, Kai, for the last time . . . .  

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This is my husband on his way to hospice, eight days before he died  . . . .

 

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This is Steve, Michael’s best friend, saying goodbye . . .  . . . . . . . .  . . . .

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 This is my best friend, Carolyn, telling Michael a joke . . . .

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This is Michael praying the day before he died . . . . .

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This is me kissing my husband the morning before he died. I then turned my head slightly and whispered in his ear, “Go to heaven. I’ll see you soon.”  . . . . .

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This is my husband before he died . . . .

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This is my husband’s marker . . .

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This is me placing a stone on his marker . . . . . . .

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These are all the people buried around him . . . .

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This is how I remember my man . . .

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This is me now . . .  .  a widow