It is hard to say it was the final chapter, but in many was it was. May was an emotional month.

It began with closing on the house that my husband, my girls and I shared for almost 11 years. Most of my youngest daughters’ memories are from that house. It was a big part of our life. Now that chapter is closed.

I was raised with a military father, so I have never been emotionally attached to a specific place. I know the memories are about the people, not the place, and that is true for the house we lived in until my husband’s death.

All that being said, it is a strange feeling to be living in a new house my husband will never physically share with me. And the selling of our last house together was more than just the end of a chapter, it was more like the final page in a book.

I keep referring to things as chapters. And while that is true for my personal journey, selling our house was like finishing a book we were writing together. It was a book that I never expected to end so soon. So many chapters left unfinished.

Now I am working on the sequel, and while there are memories of our life together, my husband will never be a main character in the sequel.

The first chapter of the new book began just a little more than a week after I closed on the house when our oldest daughter graduated from college.

It was exciting to see the accomplishment, especially with everything that we have gone through the last year. However, I was sad my husband was not there to celebrate with us. I know he was super proud of her, and would be extremely proud that her next adventure will be attending graduate school at his Alma Mater.

After graduation there were parties and quick trips before the girls and I left for our cruise (YES! I finally went on a cruise). The cruise was a graduation gift for the college graduate, as well as a much-needed escape from everything and everyone (sorry, not sorry).

I had been looking forward to the cruise for months. As the weeks passed and the time drew closer, I was actually beginning to feel a little apprehensive. The excitement was disappearing and I was getting anxious. It finally dawned on me that I was sad to be going on this fun adventure without my husband. For 22 years, my husband promised me we would go on a cruise one day. One day finally came and it was just me and the girls.