My husband and I met 15 years ago after we both lost our spouses. Being retired and having only grown children, we had the opportunity to do a lot of fun things, like travel and visit friends from afar. But no matter what we did, we had a ritual at 5 o’clock. That was our cocktail hour – no telephones, no TV, no social media allowed. Negative subjects were not to be discussed. We’d talk about future plans or how much fun we had going to a certain event and what we hoped to get our grandkids for their birthdays. Afterward, we’d head to the kitchen where we’d make dinner together.
I lost my husband to cancer a year ago, and the loneliness was unimaginable. Then one night I poured a glass of wine and came out to the living room and faced his big comfy chair. I started to talk to him. I told him about my day, the grandkids and all the things we had always discussed. It was very cathartic, and I could imagine him listening and taking it all in. I’ve continued this ritual and will until the day I die. I’ve told others about it and they’ve started their own cocktail ritual as a way to bond and put everything else aside for a half-hour. They all say it’s made them closer as couples. Non-alcoholic cocktail hours work just as well.
I have to close now. It’s 4:45PM and I have to get ready to have a nice chat with my husband!
Kathy
I Still Have Cocktail Hour With My Husband Even Though He’s Gone
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