no hearts and flowers

So.

Valentines' Day.

Normally, this is a day I love, and I like to spoil my man and be spoiled in turn.

But today, it's just another day for me, because my husband is away (again). It doesn't matter, really, because we celebrate our marriage every day and a special day is like sprinkles on the icing on the cake.

But today is not 'just another day' for some pretty amazing women whose blogs I've been reading this year. Women who've lost their soulmates and are having to learn to live life without their other half.

How do they do that? how do they get out of bed every day and face life, knowing how cruel it can be? How do they learn to live again?

I often think of these two lines from Sleepless In Seattle.
"Well, I'm gonna get out of bed every morning... breathe in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breathe in and out... and, then after a while, I won't have to think about how I had it great and perfect for a while."
"Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic."

There's nothing you can say to someone who's lost love like that. Nothing in all this world to ease the pain or help them forget.
And on a day like today, when others are celebrating their two-ness, I offer you women my love, my thoughts, my prayers.
It's not enough.
It's all I have.

for Lori. XXX

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
(W.H. Auden)

My heart goes out to you today, Lori.

about Lori...

People who don't blog are often critical of social networking media. Especially "mummy-bloggers'.

They claim blogging is narcissistic, shallow, boring, stupid - etc etc....

They're so wrong.

Mummy-bloggers are a community. Sure, you get your problems, people who seem hell-bent on causing trouble, but they are few and far between, and on the whole, mummy-bloggers form supportive friendships on-line, just as they would IRL.

Take Lori, for example.

If you've ever read her blog, you'll know, she's funny, warm, and REAL -- a fabulous mum to two little kids, and wife to her husband, Tony, her soul-mate.

Right now, Tony is in ICU, fighting for his life. I don't know any more than that, and I can only imagine how terrified Lori must be. Hospitals are overwhelming places to be in, and you feel so lost and helpless, waiting by a loved ones' bedside.

She's asking for prayers, on her husbands' behalf, prayers for healing and health.

And we're asking, that on Loris' behalf, you read this post, pray, and join the FYBF hop, which is being hosted at Wanderlust.
If you can, consider making a small donation to help Lori right now. There is a link on Wanderlusts' post.

But above all, pray. Spread the word, and pray.

a cry for help.

Please read this post from the lovely Lori

and PRAY. If you aren't a believer, send positive thoughts or healing wishes or whatever you can. PLEASE.