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Tag: grief

Posted on27 November 202128 November 2021Widow Life

Sixty years ago

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Sixty years ago

Today should be a big celebration to mark my husband’s 60th birthday. But, as with too many years before, he is not here to celebrate;…

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Posted on22 July 202121 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Older by a day: 47+

by Just Frances4 Comments on Older by a day: 47+

Today is not my birthday. But it does mark the day that I am older. Oh, sure, every day is a day that we are…

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Posted on21 May 202119 July 2021Widow Life

Sixteen and candles

by Just Frances2 Comments on Sixteen and candles

Today is my “would be” 16th wedding anniversary. Yes, it has been 16 years since I laughed at the altar in my hometown church and…

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Posted on28 April 20212 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Walking with grief

by Just Frances2 Comments on Walking with grief

I met a man when I was out walking the other day and the encounter provided me with so much to ponder about life –…

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Posted on26 April 20212 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Twelve years forward, mostly

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Twelve years forward, mostly

Another year has gone by without my husband by my side. After 12 years of this horrible widow life, I have come to know what…

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Posted on23 March 20214 July 2021Everyday Life, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

The year that wasn’t: My year of COVID19 isolation

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The year that wasn’t: My year of COVID19 isolation

Today marks one year since the UK’s COVID19 lockdown measures became “law” – three days after the “stay home” orders were announced. Since then, the…

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Posted on21 February 20214 July 2021Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

47 furlongs for 47 years

by Just Frances4 Comments on 47 furlongs for 47 years

Today is my 47th birthday and to celebrate, I ran 47 furlongs! Which I know seems weird, but I like to have a bit of…

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Posted on28 October 20204 July 2021Everyday Life, Health & Wellness, Widow Life

Widow dreams, again

by Just Frances2 Comments on Widow dreams, again

This morning was one of those days. It was one of those days when I woke up and I wasn’t a widow. I woke up…

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Posted on10 October 20204 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

A stroll down Memory Lane

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A stroll down Memory Lane

Over the past two months, I have gone back through every single one of the 1,400+ posts here on my blog, as part of the…

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Posted on21 May 20204 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Mrs missing Mr

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Mrs missing Mr

Today would have been my 15th wedding anniversary. And in this very strange time of social distancing and self-isolation, I find myself missing Paul even…

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Posted on26 April 20204 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

A pilgrimage by proxy

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A pilgrimage by proxy

Today marks 11 years since my beloved husband, Paul, passed away so unexpectedly. His death has impacted my life more than I ever could have…

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Posted on7 September 201916 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Thoughts on crumbling stones

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Thoughts on crumbling stones

On my way to the Death Café a couple of weeks ago, I wandered through a couple of old kirkyards at the base of the Edinburgh Castle.…

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Posted on30 August 201916 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Death and cake

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Death and cake

I attended my first “Death Café” last weekend. I had heard about these events in the past but had never had the time to attend,…

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Posted on21 May 201916 July 2021Widow Life

14 years a Mrs

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 14 years a Mrs

It has been 14 years since I became Mrs Ryan, although most of that time has been spent as a widow rather than a wife. Yet…

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Posted on28 April 201916 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

The border of Berwick and grief

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The border of Berwick and grief

On my way home from visiting my late husband’s grave, I stopped off in Berwick-Upon-Tweed for some adventuring. I thought that it would be a good way to…

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Posted on26 April 201916 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

Ten years a widow

by Just Frances1 Comment on Ten years a widow

Today marks ten years of widowhood; ten years since my darling husband died so unexpectedly in the middle of the night. These past ten years have…

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Posted on15 October 201729 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Grief and the art of “moving forward”

by Just Frances6 Comments on Grief and the art of “moving forward”

I am a widow. I was widowed when I was a young woman of 35 and my life has never been the same since. In the…

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Posted on16 June 201729 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

It was his loss, too

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on It was his loss, too

When we think about the grieving that happens after the death of a loved one, we often think about the suffering those left behind are…

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Posted on22 May 201729 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Toasting twelve years

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Toasting twelve years

Yesterday was (would have been?) my 12th wedding anniversary. And much like last year, I spent the day distracting myself with my PhD before taking some time to…

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Posted on26 April 201729 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

A shattered heart, still beating

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A shattered heart, still beating

Today marks eight years since his heart stopped beating. And in that very same moment, my own heart shattered into a million pieces. Remarkably, my shattered heart…

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About Just Frances

Just Frances is a personal website maintained by me, Frances Ryan. I am a quirky runner, writer, thinker, drinker, crafter, adventurer, and researcher. I am also a daughter, sister, aunty, friend, and widow. But mostly, I am just Frances. (She/Her)

I blog about my life, including my travels and adventures, my experiences with PKD and ITP, my life as a young(ish) widow, and my life in general, really. Learn more about the topics I write about here.

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