Hello to each of you. I hope your week is going well.

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This week as I do each year, I honor the memory of my husband, Richard. I know many of you have suffered the loss of a loved one … and I know many understand why I write this column each year. To each of you who are missing a loved one, my heart goes out to you. I hope each of you are able to cherish those sweet memories and are able to find great joy in the precious time you had with your loved one.

Thursday, May 14 will mark 10 years since my husband Richard went to heaven. This is not meant to be a sad column but a column of great joy and thankfulness to God.

We had been married for 47 years when God called him home very suddenly on that bright sunny day in May. I will tell you the truth, I was completely lost; I was so sad and so heartbroken … he was my sweetheart since I was 17 years old … I didn’t know how I would be able to go on. My great blessing is the amazing love and strength given to me from my family and dear friends these last 10 years.

Many of you have probably read in this column how I met Richard while cruising Pacific Avenue in the late ‘60s. I was 17 years old. He was 18 years old. He was driving a cool black Chevy with, I think they called them glass packs back in the day, whatever it was it made that souped up Chevy very loud, and I thought very cool.

My high school girlfriends and I were cruising the avenue that warm fall Friday night. East Union High girls, those boys in that cool black Chevy … it turned out they were Franklin High School boys. I was a senior at East Union. Richard had just graduated from Franklin. Those boys in that black Chevy wanted to race us girls. Back in that day, Pacific Avenue was crowded on Friday nights. Kids came from all around to cruise together, it was such an innocent and fun time. I wish our kids today could have the fun of Friday night cruising. Times are sure different.

I will always remember looking over at the handsome blonde-haired driver of that Chevy; he smiled and waved. We were engaged at Christmas time at his parents’ home and we were married in the spring time … May 3, 1969. The reception was held at my parents’ home. Richard worked hard and took good care of me and our children and grandchildren. From that evening on Pacific Avenue to the bright spring day – May 14, 2016 – when God called Richard home very suddenly, all I ever knew was his love and his strength, his kindness and the joy he brought to me, our family and all who knew him.

I miss him every day … every minute … and truthfully, if I let myself, I can get really sad. He wouldn’t want me to do that. So, I will fill my days with great memories and great joy. Thank you to each of you who help me along the way.

May God Bless each one of you … our memories will always be carried with us in our hearts.

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As always, you may text or telephone me at 209-985-5233 with information for this column.