Last night I went to my nieces wedding. It's been eleven years since Donnie's death and you would think that I would be used to that empty chair across from me - but I'm not and I don't think I will ever be. It's hard to set at a table for eight, husbands on one side and their wives on the other side. Expect for me, I had that empty chair, but the place setting was still set up as if someone was going to be sitting there. My sister joked that if was like I had the perfect husband, silent and no effort needed. It threw me off as that empty chair is a reflection of Donnie not being with me for all the family events. I always find Christmas and all the social get togethers hard. I left after the meal as there is no enjoyment in watching all the couples dancing. I just thought I would share so that all you other widows would understand that our grief does not have a time length and its okay to miss them, even if its been eleven years. As we honor our Veteran's today lets also honor our loved ones and be grateful for the times and memories we still have.