tierneytravels

Stories from the Road, Part I

tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

I’ve titled this post “Stories from the Road” because it is about my recent road trip across 4 states in the Eastern Coast of the United States as well as the new journey/road I am on as a widow after the recent loss of Terry the Quilting Husband (TTQH) my partner of many years.

First I want to thank everyone who left thoughtful comments on my previous post when I shared I would be taking a break from blogging. Please know I read and appreciate all the comments, I am not up to responding to them. I really appreciate my blogging community and I was feeling the love, thank you.  Originally I planned to take an extended break from blogging (or perhaps stop blogging complete) but I really enjoy writing and the amazement that people actually read my musings!

No matter how terrible my grief is, I continually work on remembering two things: 1) how lucky I was to be married to my best friend for over half my life; and 2) that TTQH would want me to go forward in life and be happy.

Every day I also work on smiling through my tears such as in this recent photo taken from my brother-in-law’s kitchen in Upstate NY during the get together we had honoring Terry:

2018-12-16_13-25-19_877.jpegSo Much Support

I am blessed to have a large supportive network of family, friends, and colleagues. My sister has been exceptionally supportive and I will talk more about that in the next section.

Marla Jo and Jason were there on the worst day of my life, finding Terry after an aneurysm took his life. They took my dog Mike the Miniature Schnauzer and kept him for a week.

My friend Laurie was there on the second worse day of my life – going to the funeral home to make arrangements. I’ve mentioned outings with Laurie and her dog Luna in previous blog posts and on the second worse day of my life, Laurie took me to visit a horse property with horses she works with to give me a little equestrian therapy (see post Horsing Around).

I appreciate friends that have continually checked on me as well as many other friends and coworkers who have reached out.

Terry’s family has been awesome and very supportive, especially his two amazing sisters, to include helping me with his end of life expenses. Friends have also reached out with financial support to help with travel and end of life expenses and I greatly appreciate that support. I learned how to set up a PayPal Me account so people could send money if they chose to support me in that way.

I received two creative ways of support that made me smile – a Whole Foods gift certificate from my boss (I love Whole Foods but it is usually too expensive to shop there regularly); and a huge gift card to my favorite restaurant in Central Oregon from some colleagues. I’ve already used them both as I have not been up to cooking.

Stories from the Road

My sister insisted that I immediately come to the East Coast of the U.S. to be with family when she learned of Terry’s passing. I was initially concerned about the huge cost of last minutes cross country flights; and that it was basically deep Winter in Upstate NY.

My wonderful brother bought me a roundtrip plane ticket to Baltimore after my sister found the best flight option. My incredible sister, who lives in Richmond, Virginia, picked me up from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and drove me across four states.

We stopped in Delaware to see my brother, his wife and their son (my adorable 6 year old nephew) and then headed to Tarrytown, NY to stay the night before going on to Upstate NY in the morning. My brother also covered our hotel reservation at a very nice Courtyard by Marriott using his frequent stay points (he travels a lot for business).

I am not sure how many miles my sister drove but I am pretty sure it was at least 800 – 900 miles roundtrip including her trip back home to Richmond. We crossed the following states: Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. Part of our trip we had semi-scary inclement weather but my sister was an amazing driver. She insisted on doing all the driving.

We drove to the home of Terry’s sisters, Sue and Diane. You might remember their names from my blog posts about their visits this summer to attend the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (see post Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show 2018, Part II: Visiting Crafters).

They are both quilters and while we visited I got to see and play with their new long-arm quilting machine:

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That is a practice panel on the machine as they want to do a lot of practice before they work on an actual important quilt.

Speaking of important quilts, they have a beautiful quilt in progress on their design wall as a belated wedding gift for a family member:

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The live in the original family home and I got a kick out of seeing Terry’s old room turned into their quilt studio (still a work in progress):

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He would most definitely approve!

Terry’s sisters have rescued a couple Shih Tzu dogs from a puppy mill and have a golden doodle, Tucker. My sister and I were treated one evening to a “floor show” put on by one of the Shih Tzus and Tucker as they played tug-a-war while he dragged her across the floor as she held fast on the edge of her dog bed:

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All I could think during the show was how much Terry would have enjoyed this as he was a huge dog person (he actually liked dogs more than people).

More to Come

I will end this post here and continue the story in the next post. My energy is low as would be expected with profound grief. Please know I appreciate and read your comments but I may not be up to responding.

I am keeping the words of this old Chinese proverb in my mind:

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. – Old Chinese proverb

Feature Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

Published by tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Quilter, crafter, obsessive tea drinker and lover of all furry creatures (especially dogs and cats) - join me on my tierneycreates blog as I share stories from "A Crafter's Life".

31 thoughts on “Stories from the Road, Part I”

  2. I am so glad to read you are receiving so much support during this devastating period in your life. Your family and friends seem to understand what you need most right now. *hugs*

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  3. Although we have never met in person I feel like we are friends. The news of your great loss hit me hard as if it were one of my close friends. Every time I think about you two I cry. Please know that I send hugs your way everyday and every moment you are in my thoughts. From the depths of my heart I send you my love.

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  5. Must be so hard for you Tierney. I can only imagine the grief of suddenly losing your husband. Hoping to bump into you next summer at Sisters and give you a big, whopping hug. Stay strong, my friend. XO

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I am so glad you decided to keep on blogging. You are so good at your story telling that I feel like I am with you where ever you take us. I am with you through your joys and sorrows. Quilting sister, Kathy

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  7. So glad to see your post – I have been holding you in my prayers everyday. So grateful you have such a wonderful support system, enjoy the live that is being given. I am in Rochester NY enjoying the cold with you! Take care – will look forward to seeing you and thank you so sharing – I would hate to see you abandon your words! Blessings, Helen

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  9. Tierney, you have been in my thoughts over the last few weeks. The support of your sister and Terry’s family sound like just what you need to hold you up and give you strength to get through these horrible days. I hope you are able to find one thing each day to make you smile. Many hugs. xox

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  11. You are an amazing woman. Even in your grief, you think of others. It is great to know you have a support system. You are in my thoughts. I’m sending you hugs.

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  13. It’s good to hear from you. I’m glad you have so many loving, lovely people in your life. When you feel like writing, please write. But always remember it is for you. You have no obligation to us, so when you don’t feel like writing, when there are other things you need, please take care of yourself first. ❤

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  14. What a great quote to close today’s post. I’m so glad that you seem to have a wonderful support system of siblings from both sides and that they are wrapping you in their love and concern. Everyday when I check my quilting blogs, I think of you and wonder how you are doing. It was so nice to read this post and know you are doing even better than one might ever expect. Life is so fragile. We so often go through our days and don’t stop to consider that. You have done so much with the various books you’ve read over the past few years that I think you have a wealth of mental help to draw upon in the challenging days ahead. Cliche as it sounds, take one day at a time.

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  15. I second what Melanie said above. Writing can be cathartic, but then it can easily morph into a burden…
    And time?
    Time means nothing in the world of grief…so don’t let it become a burden either.
    Thank you for sharing TTQH with those of us in your blogging world – it was an honor to meet him especially as your strongest ‘patron’…
    peace

    Liked by 1 person

  22. I’ve been thinking about you! Happy that you have a dynamic and supportive network of friends and family to comfort you! Tierney, I wish you many blessings as you start the next phase of your life 🙂

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  23. I’m so sorry for your loss. I hadn’t read it before looking tonight at your blog. I had a similar loss in 2010, and I empathize with you, though one person’s grief is never like another’s. It takes a while to want to live again. I’m glad you could spend time with family, and have friends who love and support you, as well.

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  24. Pingback: Stories from the Road, Part II – tierneycreates

  26. As others have stated, the support system you have is so important. I cannot type for others, but I think many would understand if you took some time away from blogging. On the other hand, I think we (online friends) are also apart of that extension to the extension of the support system and we all care about you, Terry, and Mike the Mini-Schnauzer. From whatever part of the world us readers are in, we just want to make sure you are okay. You know . . . getting rest, getting proper breakfast/lunch/dinner, getting out of the house for a bit, and taking care of yourself. Please make sure to take the time and be free to fully express all the feelings you have(sadness, anger). But also remember to always leave moments for thinking about the good memories. If you do take some time away, please try to post a sentence or two every now and again just so we are not worried too much.

    On a side note: In my state, Whole Foods is so expensive it has been given the nickname “Whole Paycheck”.

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