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Just Frances

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Tag: widowhood

My life as Just Frances is quite intertwined with my life as a widow, so this is a well-used tag. Posts here will be related to grief, but also to the re-imagining of my life as “just” Frances.

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 on14 January 201422 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Thirty nine before 40

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Thirty nine before 40

My 30s are nearly over. Yes, in just 39 days my age will tick over from 39 to 40. I’m not stressed or upset about…

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Posted on9 January 201422 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Why should I settle?

by Just Frances2 Comments on Why should I settle?

It’s been more than four years since my husband died and I’ve yet to enter into a new relationship. I’ve now had four first dates…

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Posted on3 December 201322 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

I’m just not that into you

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on I’m just not that into you

There’s something ever-so frustrating about the way life and love mix. We want so desperately to be part of a couple, but when someone reaches…

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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 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 on25 September 201321 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

On being happy

by Just Frances6 Comments on On being happy

In the past few weeks, I’ve noticed an increase in conversations around happiness and depression so I thought I’d throw some of my own words…

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Posted on16 September 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

Three first dates

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Three first dates

It seems that my dating life is of great interest to folks these days – just like it was before I was married. In fact, the vast…

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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 on31 July 201321 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

A world of stress

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A world of stress

The world seems to be closing in on me right now and it’s destroying my soul. The only thing that is saving me from a…

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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 on24 May 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Alone by choice, begrudgingly

by Just Frances1 Comment on Alone by choice, begrudgingly

For the vast majority of my adult life, I have been alone. I’ve only ever had one “real” boyfriend (after having briefly dated a not-nice…

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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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Posted on15 March 201321 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Running with music

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Running with music

There was an interesting piece in The Guardian’s Running Blog yesterday about running with music. The post offered insights from two runners – a pro-music runner and a no-music runner – and…

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Posted on2 March 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

They are family

by Just Frances4 Comments on They are family

The day before my husband’s funeral, my eldest brother-in-law informed me that I was family and that Paul’s death didn’t change that. He let me…

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Posted on24 February 201320 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

A life I value

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A life I value

Yesterday’s post seems to have created some interesting, and unexpected, feedback, so I thought I’d take the time to talk about it some more. It seems…

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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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