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It is hard for some people to understand that I am fundamentally an introvert. I enjoy meeting people in professional groups to which I belong as a member or group leader. I also have done and enjoy public speaking, but that is more of a performance than “the real me.”<\/p>\n
The “real me” is quiet and happy with his life at home. When I travel, I keep pretty much to myself and go on self-guided excursions. I may see a friend or two for a meal, but that’s about it.<\/p>\n
Why then do I have such a public internet presence? After all… I also exchange messages on those platforms when I remember to check. Since I am still “old-school,” I prefer to use regular old email to communicate<\/a>, especially since I do not receive or send text messages since I do not have a sillyphone (by choice).<\/p>\n I said in a recent comment on a previous blog<\/a>, I have traveled a lot around the world, mostly for work, but also for fun with my husband. <\/p>\n I have lived and worked in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. I loved it there, but that is the past.<\/p>\n I mean no disrespect to anyone who would like to visit with me, but when I say “no,” remember, it is not about you — it is about me.<\/p>\n I am not ready to see other people. I do not think I ever will again (socially).<\/p>\n Even though I live in my own house, I do not entertain visitors, give tours of my boot or leather collections, host overnight guests, or “other things.” I like my house as I know it, alone and with the spirit of my husband who is always present with each thing I see in our house that we furnished together.<\/p>\n Please understand that if you suggest we visit (either I travel somewhere to see someone or someone travels to see me), I will say as gently as I can, “no.” The best half of my body, my soul, was torn from me when my husband died. We were truly bonded as one in marriage and in life.<\/p>\n I am concentrating on repairing that huge hole in my heart. I have a lot of support from family and friends I have known for most of my life in the community where I was born, raised, educated, purchased and built homes, and served in elected and civic office. <\/p>\n It will take a very long time for healing to continue. I am okay with that. I have learned through my Support Group that healing a loss from the death of a Spouse is more of a journey with highs, lows, and different ways of moving through a new chapter of my life that I was not planning on this early.<\/p>\n Yes, time heals all wounds. But the wound of losing half of what made me what I am — may be — may be — unrepairable. I will live on as brightly as I can, but much (MUCH) more time is required.<\/p>\n Change happens, life goes on, and us introverts are happy, alone, at home.<\/p>\n Please understand: I am okay, but happy as an introvert, volunteering to honor my husband’s memory and to keep myself busy and productive.<\/p>\n As I always say,<\/p>\n Life is short: to thine own self be true.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It is hard for some people to understand that I am fundamentally an introvert. I enjoy meeting people in professional groups to which I belong as a member or group leader. I also have done and enjoy public speaking, but … Continue reading
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\nMy bootedman.com<\/a> website has been around since 2005, and have been writing this blog since 2008. I keep the website updated frequently as a hobby I enjoy. I also have a profile on Recon and BLUF — but that is mostly to keep my BHD identity to myself and not have the same name \/ identity abused by someone else who may copy my images and screen name to pretend to be me, but he’s not. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/BHDBB1996-03.jpg?resize=300%2C203&ssl=1\")
Since my husband died, I have lost interest in travel for wanderlust purposes. I enjoyed showing him new sights and fantastic places in the USA, Canada, and the world that I had the privilege of visiting before. But since he is gone, my interest in travel, visits with others, and so forth, is … just … gone. (I still travel for specific reasons, but not to attend events with mobs of people.)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Ride20171007e.jpg?resize=300%2C215&ssl=1\")
I will visit with fellow bikers (on the road) who have their own motorcycles and go for a ride together in my home state of Maryland. Since I have downsized my motorcycle to a cruiser — not a touring bike — my rides are local, daytime, short (3 – 5 hours), and without a passenger (pillion). That is the type of riding that I currently enjoy before I hang up my helmet for good. Not sure when that may happen, but sooner than later, my motorcycle riding days will be done.<\/p>\n