Grief Retreat

I recently took a trip to Eastern Washington; also along was my daughter, daughter-in-law and her Mom.

I knew this trip would have challenges for me, many firsts; remembering where the car was parked at the airport, flying without Steve and putting my own luggage in the overhead.  It’s not that I took these things for granted, but I enjoyed knowing they were taken care of, that I was taken care of and that there was always someone by my side.

The trip had been planned as a chance for us all to be together again and after our first evening we affectionately named it “The Grief Retreat”.  We shared stories, talked about our fears & frustrations for the future, cried, took long walks, made an amazing bbq dinner, cried again, went wine tasting and cried some more. Don’t get me wrong, this was a great trip but we just happened to need to ‘cry it out’… a lot 🙂  It was good for me to get away for a few days, my mind has been swirling with so many thoughts, decisions and generally trying to see what my future looks like as a widow.  Yes, see there, I said it – On many of the forms I have been filling out there is a box for that… a new one for me.  So back to the trip…

Eastern Washington is nothing like what you think of when you think of Washington; it’s a desert!  Eastern Washington is where a lot of folks from Seattle have vacation or second homes so they can escape the rain 🙂

There is also ample vineyards and wineries, we visited Cave B Estate Winery which sites on a cliff above the Columbia River.  The weather was fantastic and we enjoyed our lunch on the patio while we took in the beautiful view.

 

Too soon it was time to return home to California, but I’ll remember this weekend forever – Love these ladies!!!

The parting shot – Trying to be artsy out the plane window, seeing our own shadow…