How long has it been?

It was a simple question.  It was also incomplete.  The real question was "How long has it been since Carmen died?"

I had to think for a moment.  3 weeks ago was the 18 month anniversary.  The fact that I had to think and that I missed a reasonably major anniversary tells me that I am healing.  Do I still miss her? Of course.  Am I tearing up as I write this?  Of course.

Now those who know the entire story will be wondering at this time...  Is the candle still lit?  I can respond with an emphatic, "YES!".

For those who don't know the story, and I cannot see that I have told it here before...  Just after Carmen died, I put up the Christmas candles.  Ours go on for 8 hours and off for 16.  The one next to my bed did not go off.  I reset it three times.  It stayed on.  I changed the batteries.  It stayed on.   It has been running for almost 19 months now on 2 AA batteries.  I like to think that Carmen is telling me that she is nearby and watching out for me.