The phrase above was first published in 1602 as the first line of an anonymous poem in Francis Davison’s anthology Poetical Rhapsody. I don’t remember the first time I heard that phrase, but I have come to realize that, at least for me, it is very true.

My wife died about eight months ago, but I still think a lot about her. I will admit that the last decade of our marriage was not as pleasant as it could have been. I was primarily in the caretaker mode with a person who just seemed repeatedly to ignore her own health. Toward the end we were pretty much just in the “coexist” mode. I will even admit that there were times when I considered breaking my “till death do us part” promise.

A decade in the caretaker mode just grinded on me. I selfishly saw my senior years and dreams being taken from me. That fact made me more resentful that I care to admit. I am certainly glad that I was able to stick it out.

As these 8 months have progressed since she passed, I have been able to purge many of those negative thoughts from my mind, and concentrate on the happy times in our 36-year life together. She was a special person who was able to put up with my peculiarities. Yes, we had our bad times, but I want to forget them and think just of the good ones.

I don’t, even in my wildest dreams, think there will be anyone else to share my life as I did with Yvonne. So, I will cling to all the good times we had and try to forget all the conflicts and troubles we caused each other.

Absence does make the mind grow fonder…

I miss you so much…