I was outside chatting with one of my neighbors and I asked her if she liked the house color. She said she had been worries, but really did like it and I mentioned how opposed Steve was to a blue house.

This neighbor is also a widow and she said, “Just say, ‘Honey, if you wanted an opinion, you should have stuck around.'”

It was perfect.

Non-widowed people might not get how much freedom comes from widowhood. It’s bought at too terrible a cost, and it isn’t worth it. But it’s there.

And, honey, the house is blue the way you never wanted. Sorry you missed it.