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Just Frances

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Tag: grief

Posted on13 May 201416 November 2022Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

My anxiety story

by Just Frances3 Comments on My anxiety story

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, with a focus on anxiety, so I thought I’d share my personal story on the topic. Please know this is a hard…

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Posted on27 April 201423 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

Stopping for the (Mel)roses

by Just Frances2 Comments on Stopping for the (Mel)roses

On my way to England yesterday, I made a stop at Melrose Abbey in the Scottish borders. It had been about a dozen years since my last visit…

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Posted on26 April 201423 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Although the storm still rages

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Although the storm still rages

Today marks five years since I lost my beloved husband so suddenly; so unexpectedly. You’d think that after five years it would feel like a distant memory,…

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Posted on18 March 201423 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

First kiss fears

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on First kiss fears

It’s been nearly five years since I last kissed my husband goodnight. It’s been that long since I’ve fallen asleep in his arms; since I’ve…

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Posted on11 March 201423 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Wet toes

by Just Frances4 Comments on Wet toes

I’ve never been a swimmer, but I’ve always loved the water. I tend to dip my toes in slowly to check the temperature then inch-by-inch…

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Posted on23 February 201423 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Keep living until you feel alive again

by Just Frances18 Comments on Keep living until you feel alive again

“You will feel better than this. Maybe not yet. But you will. You just keep living, until you’re alive again.” I heard this quote the…

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Posted on21 February 201423 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Hello, 40!

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Hello, 40!

I was born 40 years ago today. It was a Thursday and I like to think that it was a day of great celebration.  I…

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Posted on20 February 201423 July 2021Everyday Life

So long, 30s!

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on So long, 30s!

Today is the last day of my 30s, so it seems appropriate to reflect on the decade in preparation for the start of my 40s.…

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Posted on6 February 201423 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

The meet cute

by Just Frances4 Comments on The meet cute

Way back on 6 February 2002, my friend bailed out on a day trip to St Andrews. With nothing better to do, I decided to walk…

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Posted on21 January 201422 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

On the other hand

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on On the other hand

(Updated September 2020; see the end of the post.) I was halfway over the Atlantic when I moved my wedding rings from my left hand…

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Posted on27 November 201322 July 2021Widow Life

Birthday celebrations

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Birthday celebrations

Birthdays are to be celebrated. Always. Even if that celebration is as simple as an inward smile and the reflection on happy memories of birthdays…

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Posted on23 October 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

Life’s travels: Left or right?

by Just Frances4 Comments on Life’s travels: Left or right?

I’ve come to a major fork in life’s journey and all of my maps are outdated and tattered. There are very few signs and a…

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Posted on22 October 201318 October 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

Roca and rattlesnakes

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Roca and rattlesnakes

Today was a bit of a hodgepodge day that consisted of shopping, tourist-ing, and panic attacks. But there were no rattlesnakes. Well, at least none…

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Posted on9 September 201321 July 2021Widow Life

Grave digging

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Grave digging

I went to the cemetery to see Paul today and ended up digging away under his headstone. I hadn’t really planned on that, or I’d have…

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Posted on4 September 201321 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Goodbye, Scotland

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Goodbye, Scotland

I’m on the train to England now and will be flying home to America tomorrow morning. It’s weird because part of me feels like I…

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Posted on10 August 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Love hesitates

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Love hesitates

She stood staring at the ticket in her hands, her mouth trembling as she tried not to cry. As she crept further along the security…

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Posted on24 June 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

Holiday dilemma

by Just Frances4 Comments on Holiday dilemma

I want to go away on holiday somewhere. It doesn’t have to be far away; just a nice holiday away from home. I want to…

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Posted on21 May 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Marriage odds

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Marriage odds

Eight years ago, I stood at the altar of St John the Baptist Catholic Church and professed my love and dedication to the man who taught me…

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Posted on26 April 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Four years

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Four years

Life is so very different without Paul and these past four years have been a rollercoaster ride that I never could have imagined. Without Paul,…

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Posted on16 March 201321 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Software glitch

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Software glitch

There is a glitch in Just Frances, the person, that I can’t seem to repair. It started when I first got the Frances 3.0 upgrade…

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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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