T

he bad news: I am alone.

The good news: I am getting used to the new normal.

The good news: I can get up whenever I want.

The bad news: There’s no one to say “Good morning” to.

The good news: I can read the newspaper while I drink my coffee.

The bad news: There’s no one to share the news with.

The good news: I don’t have to cook supper anymore (a person can subsist on Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and veggie burgers.)

The bad news: I don’t cook supper anymore.

The good news: I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want.

The bad news: I eat alone.

The good news: I can go for a walk on the beach any evening I want.

The bad news: There’s no one to share the sunset with.

The good news: I can travel wherever I want, whenever I want.

The bad news: I do it alone.

The bad news: The car I had for ten years was totaled.

The good news: I test drove and leased a brand-new car myself.

The bad news: A pipe broke and flooded the house.

The good news: I handled the insurance adjuster, restoration crew (why are they called restoration teams when they destroy everything?), plumbers, and painters myself.

The good news: I painted my entire house a deep teal blue.

The bad news: There’s no one to share the house with.

(Excerpted from Family First, Issue 636)