Survival 101

I survived Thanksgiving #2 without Brian.  I spent the day with the kids on Wednesday since we were out of school.  At the last minute, I decided to let Tye go to the farm on Wed. night so I could get some things done and also SHOP on Friday (considering I hadn't started my Christmas shopping yet).  I had no plans for Thursday, and the girls had 2 dinners to go to.  I did see them for a few hours and we made pumpkin/oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies (which by the way, do not taste like baby food as the girls thought they would, but instead were very good, as noted by the fact that they both ate 1/2 dozen or so...ha).

Friday went well, with me spending money like it grows on trees getting a great jump on my Christmas list.  The girls and I left mid-afternoon and headed to Unionville.  We have not been there since Easter.  We have been so busy.  But we are never too busy for family.  To be honest, going to Unionville can be very difficult for me, and the last few times I was there left me crying for Brian for days afterwards.  Brian is everywhere, no doubt, and I have to deal with that.  But Unionville is Brian through and through.  I had never stepped foot in Putnam Co. until I met Brian, and being there seems almost surreal.  On top of that, Phillip and Denise did come to Maryville a lot also, and mixing in our hectic schedule, the next thing I knew, it was November!

We spent Friday through Saturday there.  The kids and I had a great time, and it felt good to be around Brian's side of our family.  He is very much still there.  I never thought Brian and his brother looked anything alike until I haven't seen my husband for 600+ days.  The facial expressions, the laugh, the voice and mannerisms.  While he is very much himself, I do catch a glimpse of Brian when I am with him, which is both difficult and comforting.  Even Brian's dad reminds me of Brian.  One day maybe those reminders will only make me smile.