Shelbyville, KY > Kansas City, MO

April 26, 2022

Hi there and hello from Kansas City, Missouri. The trip took a little longer than expected. Lucy had a few moments requiring quite a bit of attention. After all the traveling across the country, we still don’t have a solid routine down yet. Also I drove through a massive storm system that spawned tornados in eastern states the night I arrived in KC.

Packing was relatively straight forward this time. My snowboard gear was still packed up from my trip out west last month. I always struggle with hot and cold temps in the same trip. How hot is it going to be and how cold are always a concern as my normal body feeling always leans to VERY COLD. The kind you never get warmed up from. Ever. Even in summer time. I have hyperthyroidism along with food sensitivities. At one point I was even diagnosed with chronic fatigue although I suspect that was the food thing but anyway…packing, right. I’ve gotten really good at layering. Get hot, take a few off, get cold, add a few. It’s a rule that has served me well.

So tonight here in KC is a bit chilly. We are building a fire, waxing the boards, and getting ready for the 12+ hour drive in the morning. Cheers!

On The Road

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About Me and My Grief Journey

My grief journey began in the Summer of 2020. I became a widow overnight. Without warning, my entire life was turned upside down, broken into pieces I didn’t know how to put back together. Writing became my anchor—my way to breathe, process, and heal, even in small, fractured moments.

After losing Eric, I was diagnosed with PTSD, complicated grief, and an anxiety disorder. For a long time, I was paralyzed by my own emotions. I traveled across the U.S. for over two years, mostly alone, learning how to carry myself through the aftermath of sudden loss.

Along the way, I found love again. Greg became an important part of my life, bringing companionship, laughter, and even new challenges. Losing him to suicide has been another unimaginable heartbreak that shapes much of what I write here. Through it all, my emotional support animals —Odin (dog) and Freija (cat)— keep me grounded and remind me there is still love, life, and care to give.

I moved and now reside in Chicago, Illinois. This city, this home, is my space to rebuild, to grieve, and to explore who I am beyond loss.

What you will find here

This blog started as a place to house my writing. Over time, it’s become much more. Here, I reflect on grief, healing, and the messy, beautiful, often difficult journey of life after sudden loss. I write about my day-to-day experiences, the struggles and triumphs with my diagnoses, and anything else that captures my heart and attention.

My journey on podcasts

Many of my articles are available in podcast form on Spotify and Amazon Music. I welcome your comments—I love feedback. Let’s share this journey together, and maybe find adventure along the way.

Blue Widow Chronicles