Going Forward

This year has been a rough one for my aunt, Dixie Richards, who lost the love of her life, husband, Jim Richards on May 11, 2025. It was a day she had hoped would never come. Aunt Dixie and Uncle Jim were so in love!! It was a match made in Heaven and a live that would last forever, even beyond death. Their hearts are still intertwined and always will be. Nevertheless, Uncle Jim would not want his sweet wife to give up and just sit at home. He would want her to go on, and that is what Aunt Dixie is doing, and her daughters, Jeannie Liegman and Raylynn Williams are helping her, as are her grandchildren, Jacob Liegman, Gabriel, Gideon, Noah, and Mayme Williams, and son-in-law, Doug Williams. “Getting on with it” after such loss is never easy, but Aunt Dixie is blessed to have her dear family there to help her along the way. I also read somewhere that “love doesn’t end when breathing stops” and I know that is true. Aunt Dixie and Uncle Jim will always have their love, and they’ll see each other again. He is in her future now, not her past.

I’m very proud of Aunt Dixie. It’s hard to pick up the pieces, and work toward an uncertain future and on to good health. Nevertheless, I know that Aunt Dixie is going to be ok. The road is never easy, but with hard work and the help of dear loved ones, she can do this. Aunt Dixie has been going to lunch with her girls; taking walks on the road in front of the house she shares with Jeannie; sitting on the deck out back, beautifully decorated by Jeannie into a peaceful sanctuary; or going to garage sales with her daughters, and loving every minute of life, because that is what her dear husband would want her to do. I can almost picture the smile on Uncle Jim’s face…happy that his family is going to be ok…and they are…going to be ok.

Today is the first birthday that Aunt Dixie will spend without her sweet husband, since the first birthday they spent together…so many years ago. It will not be easy, but it will be blessed. She is here and we are all happy that she is. I look forward to future lunches and craft sessions with Aunt Dixie and the girls. We have grown close over these past months, and oh what a blessing that has been. I will miss seeing Uncle Jim, of course, but I am so thankful for Aunt Dixie, and I know that she will be ok, as will all her family. We will go forward to the future, working through it together, because it takes more than just one or two people, or once single family, to “get on” with life after loss, it takes a village, a big family, and friends too. And Aunt Dixie will “get on” with it, as will her family members, because they are stronger than they know. Today is Aunt Dixie’s 82nd birthday. Happy birthday Aunt Dixie!! Have a great day!! We love you!!