How to Recognize a Widow on Holidays

She’s the one crying at the pool because she just saw a hairy back. Now most people see a hairy back and say, “Yuck,” but the widow of man with a hairy back, sees one – for the first time since his death - and once again is crying in public.

She is the one crying in the middle of an Al Green concert of very uplifting and fun, but nostalgic music, digging for tissue because she is once again crying public.

She is the one crying on the street outside the souvenir shop where she just received a phone call on her cell phone from a friend/acquaintance who doesn’t use a computer and somehow was out of the loop and just heard of her husband’s passing. Once again crying in public.

She is the one crying on the beach as she remembers other holidays with him on beaches throughout the world.

She is the one crying in the mall after picking up prints of photos that had been on her cell phone. She had wanted that great photo from a certain happy day, but she forgot that there was a picture of him just before died, looking to gaunt and close to death’s door.

She is the one crying in her motel room with loneliness and sadness. It doesn’t matter if she is alone or with a friend.

She is the one crying in the restaurant because she is sharing stories with a dear friend, which she loves to do, but is just overcome with tears.

She is the one crying in the car as she misses his hand that used to come over to touch her as she drives down the street.

She is the one crying in the coffee shop as she writes a blog entry about how to recognize a widow.

Once again, crying in public.