I’m Erin Campbell Wagner. I am an actuary, a musician, a traveler, a bibliophile, an AFOL (adult fan of LEGO), a sister, and the owner of a delightful cat and dog. And I am a widow. You may be thinking, “Aren’t you a little young to be a widow?” Why yes, yes I am! But as I tragically learned on April 5, 2024, some people do not get to live long lives.

The purpose of this blog is not to reminisce on the tragic details of my husband’s demise. He had a quote painted on the wall of his closet:

“It’s all in the past except the present.”

That’s the philosophy I am using to navigate my grief journey. My blog entries will reflect on my present state of mind, how I am healing from a devastating loss, and my hopes and dreams for the future. Because I believe there is always hope.

When I became a widow, I was desperately searching for resources that would help me through the greatest challenge of my life. And I was quite disappointed in what I was reading online. As I sifted through online grief forums, everyone was talking about how years later, they are still struggling to get out of bed and that their lives are ruined forever. I refused to accept that as my reality. There is always hope! When I would get anxious or overwhelmed about something, my husband would always say:

“The only way through it is through it. It takes as long as it takes.”

Wise words, and very apropos for this time in my life. I hope you will find this blog to be inspiring and uplifting. And that’s not to say I’m never sad. But I find ways to stay connected to him and cultivate joy.