Yesterday my computer popped up a reminder that I didn’t need, telling me that today is my late husband’s birthday,
I celebrated his birthday with him for 35 years ~ and this April 26 is the second year I'm wishing him Happy Birthday in Heaven. The years really do fly by.
Ralph posted this not-too-flattering majority card photo taken on his 18th birthday more than once to mark his special day.
I much prefer this one:
Ralph, center, served as chairman of the Ansonia Cultural Commission.
Here he's posing with the city's Event Coordinator and commission member Rich DiCarlo, at left, and Mayor David S. Cassetti at the city's Christmas tree lighting ceremony in 2015.
Anniversaries usually are occasions to celebrate, but not always.
Today is Dec. 2, and it’s a bittersweet one for me. It’s the first anniversary of my husband Ralph’s passing.
It’s a sad time, of course, but I have 36 years of memories that are happy - and that makes me feel like I can describe it as bittersweet.
It’s hard to believe a year has gone by since that morning when a close friend and I found Ralph in bed, no longer breathing. She performed CPR on him to no avail as I frantically called 9-1-1. The memory of that morning is forever seared into my brain.
I wish to thank my family, friends, and members of the community who have given me support through this difficult year. I am truly appreciative of all the kindnesses I’ve received.
And I want to give a special mention to John Zaleski at Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home in Ansonia, who made the entire process as painless as it could be under the circumstances.
Ralph had quite the dry sense of humor. It was so dry that after all the years together he even fooled me at times.
An example is a quick blog post he penned in April, 2020 (see photo above).
He wrote: “Grabbing some sun in the COVID era. Was I supposed to wear a mask when on my driveway???”
I'm glad I have many family photos to remind me of the good times as I attempt to go through 'stuff' on his desk, his computer, in his closet, and more.
I've learned to never take life for granted. It all can change in the blink of an eye.
