I used to feel like I lived a pretty normal life. A husband, two kids, a dog, and two rabbits. We were ridiculously busy with kid activities, working, camping, fishing, and spending time with friends. We were booked out for a few months practically every weekend and about once a quarter I’d have to yell “uncle” and demand that we stay home for a weekend to clean house, work in our yard, and get ready for the next big adventure coming up. We were not rich, but comfortable enough that when I was downsized from my job of 11 years at the phone company, I was able to stay home and get caught up while trying to figure out what my next professional endeavor would be. We bought our dream house out in the country (major fixer-upper) and we had just moved and had it half –way completed. Then it all came crashing down. My sweet husband broke his leg on a Friday and was dead by Monday.

This is my story of how I am surviving the worst moments of my life and how I’m getting better every day. In fact, I might even be better than I ever was (some days) because now I really “get” how important it is to appreciate and enjoy all the goodness in my world. My hope is that someone else going through this bitchy grief journey will benefit and know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You are not crazy. You’re just under the not-so-pleasant spell that grief casts upon us, even when we really don’t ask for it.

My name is Kristie Osborn. I live in Eastern Oregon with my two kids and my dog. We ski, hike, camp, and fish a lot, when we’re not sitting at a tennis match or baseball, football, or volleyball game. I am currently working on my first book “Grief Is A Dirty Biotch.”