Two things have dominated my life in the last few weeks:
First, my best friend died. I don't know how to share this news without being blunt. In a period of my life that seems to be marked by grief (as well as by extreme joy), this is yet another example of how life can be so incredibly cruel. At the same time, her death is a reminder to live each day to the fullest. Each night when I read to B and rock her to sleep, I smell her head, kiss her cheeks, and tell her how much I love her and relish those moments because Chelsey doesn't get to do that to her little ones anymore. It breaks my heart. She was the first person with whom I shared my infertility news, the first person at my side after Quinn died, the only person other than Rob who attended ultrasounds during my pregnancy with Blythe, and the friend I visited for coffee immediately after my miscarriage this spring. We've been through so much together and I don't quite know how I'll get through more without her. But I know I will because she was the toughest lady that I know and I'll use that as my inspiration.
I'm not particularly religious. At times like this, I really wish that I were. Chelsey's father passed away a year to the day before Quinn. She always talked to me about how Quinn was in heaven with her Dad and he was talking the best care of her for me. When I got pregnant this spring again, she said "thanks, Dad and Quinn, for sending Darcy another baby." And now the only comforting thought I have about Chelsey is that she is with her Dad (who she missed dearly) and with Quinn. I know she believed that she would be, so I'm going to believe it, too.
This photo is of me and Chelsey after our marathon in June (I'm on the right). She was the kind of friend who would agree to run a marathon in 6 weeks because you had a miscarriage and need something to work toward. This won't be the last time I mention her on this blog, but that's all I can say for now. I miss her dearly and keep waiting for her to text me about our next long run or dinner with the kiddos.
Second, we have made a momentous decision: we are taking 2017 as a year to travel. We have booked tickets, departing January 2nd, for Kauai. From there, we'll head to New Zealand and Japan and then to Europe. It's a crazy decision, but it felt like the right time for both me and R in terms of work. I'm desperate to spend more time with B and with R. It's been a tough couple of years and it will do us some good to relax, travel, spend time together, and just enjoy life. We aren't putting ourselves in any financial hardship by doing this trip and we are so excited.
Given that we are all acquaintances via the Internet, this probably sounds insane and like something I'm making up. I'm really not. I will be blogging about the trip on my regular blog, which you are all welcome to follow (although we aren't leaving until January): www.darcyeden.com. I just ask that you please respect the fact that I talk about Q and infertility in a very different way in that space (which is not very much - I'm not ready) and REALLY do not want this space revealed on that site.
It's hard to be joyous about this adventure giving Chelsey's death. It's actually astonishing to me how differently I'm experiencing grief about Chelsey as compared to Q, but I think that is a topic for another post. I haven't wrapped my head around it yet.
Hug your husband, wife, partner, parents, family, littles, etc. extra tight.
