William -
I read your sad news this morning, and would have responded sooner but just didn't know what to say, but I'll try ...
One of the things that you said in your post - that you are alone now - really hit hard, and got me thinking ...
In a way, we're always alone, even when we're with someone ... and in a way, we're never alone, even when there's no one around ...
I just want you to know that I feel your pain and emptiness, as I'm sure so very many of us here do. Nothing can bring your wonderful companion of forty-seven years back to you, and all I, and we, can do is be here for you to help you to enjoy all that is still available to you to enjoy ... and that's a lot.
There are a lot of great people here, and we're all in your corner. With a little help from your friends, I believe you'll be able to get through this tough time. We're all in this together, and we all know that this life doesn't last forever. All we can do is make each day on earth the best it can be, and help each other along the way.
I've never been married, but you and I do have some things in common. I share some of your exact interests; woodworking, metalworking and welding. (If you're going to be in the tree business, you'd better know how to weld, and fabricate metal). I'd love to share in your projects and interests, and I think a lot of us would too. I hope you start another thread, or threads, with pictures of your shop, and your tools, and lots of info about what you'd like to make and do. It's always nice to be able to share things with other people; I think people are very "social" creatures, and we just seem to do better when we have other people in our lives to talk to, to bounce ideas off of, and to share our accomplishments and interests with.
And of course, to share our joy with, and to share our sadness with. There's a great saying that goes something like "having other people in our lives enables us to divide our sorrow, and multiply our joy". It would be my pleasure to help you do just that, and I'm sure I speak for many, many people here on TBN when I say that. I'm sure you have a lot of friends here, and many that you haven't met yet but soon will.
So hang in there - I know things seem pretty sad and lonely right now, but you're not alone. You're among friends, and we're all pulling for you.
Warmest regards,
John D.
