It has been a long day, but a good day. It was a beautiful day, with temperatures in the 60s, and it felt delightful to shed the jacket.  

My sister and her husband took me to see a matinee of Starstruck at the Bucks County Playhouse, which sits on the banks of the Delaware River.  I hadn’t been to the playhouse in years and had forgotten how beautiful and peaceful it was to look out at the river. There is nothing like seeing and hearing live performances.

Dinner was at my son’s house for a postponed 12th-birthday celebration due to snow, with my oldest granddaughter. I enjoyed spending time with my kids and their families, my son’s in-laws, and their children. The kids’ laughter is infectious.  

The later sunset had me staying a little longer than I would have on a school night, but then I may have missed the chance to take pictures of the glorious sky!

I can’t lie: the ride home was bittersweet and ended in tears because I was missing Chuck.  Each time I attend something that we would have done together, it is a challenge.   But since I am working on finding joy each day, I did my best to focus on happy memories of the times we spent together.  It’s a work in progress.

Today is yet another example of how grief and joy walk side by side.