For the first time in 137 days, I awoke this morning and the first words that popped out of my mouth were, “I love my life”. I said it without thinking and and really surprised myself with the joy I felt. What a wonderful feeling. There is indeed life after death … even the death of your soulmate, husband, and best friend. I knew this day would come and just kept putting one foot in front of the other until it arrived. It feels good … and comfortable.

After four months of being a blob unable to get motivated to get back into my art or really much of anything, I created a jumpstart… a deadline… signed up for two craft fairs. That was two weeks ago and I am back to my obsessive compulsive, wacky, crazy, eccentric art self. I wake up at 3:30 or 4 am and can’t wait to get in my studio and create! I feel whole again.

I am so busy now that I cannot get everything done that I want to. But the busyness is all good and rewarding. Here’s what I’m up to these days. It will make your head spin!

• Continuing work as a Standardized Patient at 4 medical schools
• A Teaching Assistant at one school where I teach first year medical students how to perform a head to toe physical exam.
• Volunteer Ushering at three different theaters (so I get to see the shows for free)
• Joined a grief group that meets every week
• Joined a book club that meets once a month
• Joined a storyteller group that meets once a month
• Volunteering at Ben Taub to nurture newborn babies in the NICU (starting in January)
• In a 5 year heart study at Memorial Hermann
• In a 4 month nutrition study at Baylor College of Medicine
• Have become a vegetarian
• Follow Eastern Philosophies
• Become an all-around happy person with a positive outlook on life

Yes … it is true … there is life after death (of a loved one) and I truly love my life.

Namaste

DeeDee