This photo was taken on the last night my partner had in her beloved Switzerland. During a stunning sunset. Watching the moon rise over the Alps was just the most wonderful experience.

Little did we know that she would be gone 12 months later.

This is a photograph I can look at and still smile. Other photos bring tears but not this one. Don’t know why. In fact the more I think about it this was probably the last Swiss Photograph. It really should bring tears. Strange.

That night we racked our brains trying to work out ways of emigrating here to retire. Drawing up plans for spending all of our long life’s together. So many plans. In reality just pipe dreams with no chance of coming to fruition. The one thing we never factored in was an early death. You never do probably.

A few days ago I walked behind an elderly couple who had been shopping. They walked slowly hand in hand. Behind them a broken man walked sobbing his eyes out. In our pipe dreams that was us in thirty years.

I can’t tell how much that hurts.

75 thoughts on “Alpine sunset”

  2. I’d be lying if I didn’t have tears in my eyes while reading this. I find it terribly difficult finding the words to convey my genuine sympathy for you. This was such a moving and touching read, and it reminds me of the love I lost. So many years later, and it still remains an open wound.
    God Bless you. 😢 😔 🙏💔

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  6. Such a beautiful photo and such wonderful memories. My father lost my mother in just two weeks to encephalitis. It was devastating to him as she was the love of his youth. He never got over her, but he did find another love with a wonderful woman years later. I was so happy for him!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Oh yes. When I see my own kids growing up, never knowing what it’s like to have a grandfather, let alone two…all those memories I had with my grandparents, and these kids will never have that. My grandparents were such a couple, moving slowly down the street, hand in hand. I just thought that’d be my folks, that that’d be me. And now? Now I just am too damn scared to think that far ahead. What I *will* do–and as you do–is to take one day at a time, to cherish every moment. To be thankful we had this day, and if we’re blessed with another, to be thankful for that, too. Cherishing the little moments, as fleeting and beautiful as a dandelion seed. xxxxxxxxx

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. That is so beautifully said. Our son never got the chance to meet either of granddads. But he did get time with his two grannies even if that narrow window of opportunity has now closed. My outlook has completely changed now. Just living in the moment never thinking about that happy future. Sending you hugs. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. You have lost something rare and beautiful so I don’t blame you for crying. A friend died two years ago and I was some how left comforting his grieving widow who I had never met before because he has moved away when he had married her but he had always talked of his love for her and her speech at the funeral was also so filled with love such love. She had spoken of her heart being ripped out and of feeling so alone as they always did everything together. Lots of people talk of love or believe they are in love but I know from the way she spoke and my friend spoke about her that what they had was as rare as hens teeth – true love, to quote A line in Bridget Jones – two people who love each other ‘just the way you are’. The reason that line always gets the audience blubbing is because hardly anyone ever experiences that and everyone wants to. I will say to you what I said to her, ‘I know it must be so hard for you to lose someone you love so deeply but you got to experience something wonderful and rare together, something most people will never have even for a moment and although it was only for a short time no one can ever take that away from you.’ Hugs. X

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  18. Beautiful photo. Some memories are sweet, some are painful. I don’t usually discuss my pain, but last night in an unexpected conversation it happened. It’s a collective experience, and sometimes it’s cathartic to share.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  23. I envy what you had. I’ve never experienced that level of connection or, that level of grief. You have a piece of her putting you in your place on a daily basis. For that, you have been blessed twice.

    That is an absolutely gorgeous shot, BTW… Stunning.

    Hugs from the East Coast…🤗❤💖💝💞💕

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  24. You will always mourn the loss of your partner as the special woman she was. At the same time, you will evolve as a person and create new contexts for yourself. So one day you might move to Switzerland on your own accord or realise you’d rather actually do something different. That is one of the beauties of life 😊

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  28. Yes – we sure don’t know what a day will bring forth – sorry for your loss and fame here from derrick’s blog as he linked it today…
    Also – I teach and one of my students was upset because a 27 year old fell off a ladder and died! Gone – just like that. Makes the heart break –
    And the photo is extra special for the memory attached 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

Leave a comment