Thursday, June 14, 2007

Don't Slam The Door....

So here I am in my newly-emptied house. It's not really empty. Just the clothes and the books and the paintings and the man are gone.

For the past few days, he has been filling the SUV, newly registered in his name, with stuff. The garage, which we had specially fitted-out so it could be his studio, took the longest time. And made the smallest dent in my perception. But then, sometime yesterday or maybe the night before, I started to notice. A favorite painting that I sort of considered 'mine' was gone. And his clothes--there are few things sadder, it seems to me, than a closetfull of empty hangers. Of course, the good news is that I will probably never have to buy plastic hangers again, so many do I now have as spares.

Paintings off the walls and some transportable furniture left bare places that I couldn't leave alone. So I went trolling through my side of the garage and found a painting that I had done when I was about sixteen to hang where one of his had been. I quite like the painting; it's an abstract that I did in my aunt's studio one night while the grownups were talking 'round the table. It doesn't really fill the space, but it's better than blank wall, until I decide what I really do want there. And one of the Mission rockers that I bought at an auction in PA, that I put where his huge upholstered Bishop's chair had been. It's too small as well, but it will do the job. That all went out yesterday, and truth to tell, I felt quite sad all evening.

Today, he packed up his computer. But not before I undertook the Herculean task of deleting all of my files and programs. We shared that computer for a number of years and unwrapping my life on the hard drive from his was probably harder than the legal separation of property will be.
This is all so new and mostly, I don't know what to make of it. When I think of the reality of what's happening, I'm astonished, aghast, appalled. How can this be? How is it that in the space of what, six weeks, life as I knew it and expected it to be has been erased?

Still, I can't say I'm suffering mightily. I'm shocked and hurt and disappointed and mad--hey, I'm a candidate for the stages of mourning, aren't I! Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, writ large. But I'm sleeping well, and my appetite isn't off. And I'm exercising--yes, yes, yes--on my new Pilates Reformer, so tomorrow is another day, etc. etc. etc.

Actually, Molly is the one that I feel the most for. So much of her life was spent with him. They had routines that she won't have with me. I won't be taking her to Starbucks every morning and sharing my scone with her. Nor will she accompany me on trips hither and yon, although I do have her carseat (yes, Molly has a car seat, of course) in my car. But they used to spend some good portion of the day driving. And if he was in the garage painting, she was there with him. She doesn't understand what's going on. All she knows is, something's wrong with my people. Today I sat on the sofa with her after he had driven off and she scrunched herself up small, shoved her head under my hip and jammed the rest of her body as close to mine as she could get. I think she would have gotten inside me if she could. And then she'd be sure that I too wouldn't leave her.

7 comments:

  1. Well. This is NOT what I expected to find here. I don't know what I expected. But you write so well that can picture the things you describe. I shall return.

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  2. I can't think of anything clever to write. I am just sending big arms to hug you and Molly both. Everyone can use a good hug now and then.

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  3. Anonymous5:22 AM

    The empty space thing is hard. Somehow the absent wooden spoon, the missing rug that seemed like it belonged to you (but apparently never did), that particular tool you won't miss until you need it in the goddamn middle of a project, they take on a huge importance - I guess because they're tangible and so much else in the loss of a relationship isn't. Ugh. I've been there. And I feel for poor Molly, having nursed two beagles through this TWICE. Keep breathing.

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  4. It will get easier, I promise. Having been through a divorce myself, you recover quickly. If you are okay physically, you'll be fine. Sending good vibes your way. . .

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  5. ktp: thanks for the nice words. don't you just wish we could see ourselves as others see us? I mean, really, who am I out in public?

    liamfan: hugs received--and Molly hopes that the two big boys were sending theirs as well.

    simon: you are, as always, dead on.

    nina: the vibes just got here...!

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  6. Yeah, I have done the breaking houses apart thing and it is always unnerving. What to do with the painting by a friend that says "Love to you Sue and Curt" on the back of the canvas??

    And the pets...I was thinking just yesterday that Goldie should have a visitation with Mr Stapler but then I thought "Nah." Too much baggage with it.

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  7. please contact me about a writing opp.
    thanks
    paula@smallponds.com

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So--whaddaya think?