{"id":9266,"date":"2019-07-23T05:50:25","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T12:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=9266"},"modified":"2021-10-01T05:11:16","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T12:11:16","slug":"riding-with-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=9266","title":{"rendered":"Riding with loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I was with her<\/strong> from 1990 to 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We raised her three children<\/strong>, bought a home, tried our best to have a life better than our parents. Without a doubt there were hard times, but I foolishly thought that love would keep us afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we broke up<\/strong>, I was unable to give her kids a final goodbye, which broke my heart. The week before her birthday, March 23rd, her oldest daughter messages me that her Mom died at the end of December 2018, but that a celebration of life is being held on her birthday. She would love it if I could come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could not make it<\/strong> as I dont live in Utah anymore. I did tell her though that I would do my own little tribute, as her Mom was a very special person to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So after my week<\/strong> was done up in the White Mountains, I go for a bike ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The memories of our life<\/strong> together flash before me as I struggle to ride through the mud on the trail. I wonder if things would have been different if we would have gotten back together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ironically<\/strong>, my life most likely would never have gone down the path it did if we hadnt broken up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The life unknown from the path<\/strong> not taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I wipe the flecks of mud from my face, mixing it in with the tears that are streaming down my cheeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her daughter tells me that her Moms addiction is what most likely led to her death. That addiction is why we did not stay together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I am reconnected with her children, and their smiling faces and full lives make my own corner of the Universe a bit brighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope that their Mom is smiling a little brighter too now that her pain is hopefully over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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