#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

The Day My Heart Broke

October 22, 2012 · Narrative

timely fortune
After nearly a year and a half together, Mystic and I had developed an awesomely comfortable ebb and flow. I loved us for that. But sometimes even when something seems so good, it fails anyway and we are powerless to stop it.

Mystic and I broke up a little over a month ago. I chose not to write about it originally because I hoped it would be a bump, and not the end. That we could fix what was broken and one day look back on it. So in the beginning of September, I said that I was going through some personal things. And I was purposely vague. Mostly because some of it I couldn’t talk about here (and in truth, not all of September’s rottenness had to do with our break-up), and some of it I wasn’t ready to. And all the sudden, my phone lit up with text messages asking if I was ok.

I am a very lucky girl. No doubt about it.

I also waited because I couldn’t talk about it without crying.

Break-ups suck, no matter the circumstances.

I don’t have easy explanations. Because there aren’t any. He is a good, good man, and he was good to me and my kids. And there is a huge void there now. Huge. I see him in everything I touch, and that makes it so much harder to go through this. I have to pass his house every day, twice a day, because it’s on the same street as Madeline’s school. And the kids, oh those kids miss him something fierce.

But that doesn’t change the facts.

I’m sad. And a bit broken. Mystic became such a big part of our lives. Although it took me awhile, it was a big deal that I let him in the way I did. Sure, I’ve dated since getting divorced. But Mystic reached me in a way other men didn’t. He made me feel safe and like I had a partner.

Of course there were always challenges. Tugs. We have five kids between us. Ages 4 through 19. In five different schools. They all have different needs. At different times. And are in many different stages. He works two jobs. I work full-time, plus freelancing, and creative dabbles. Two ex-spouses. It’s just not easy.

I don’t have a happy spin on this. I know I will look back on this many months from now, and it won’t hurt quite as much. That it’s just another chapter in life’s great big book. Until then, I’m just not there yet. I think about him and what we had all the time and wish that this weren’t so. Who knows what the future holds. In the meantime, I will be doing what I do best. Focusing on me and the kids and putting one foot in front of the other.

xoxo

*I got the above fortune a few weeks back, which I thought was pretty timely. And uplifting. And now, at home, on our fortune wall. And, of course, the first post I found when I was searching for a picture of our fortune wall was this one. Sigh.

* You’ll still be seeing his name here and there on future posts because we still see his daughter, and I also have a plethora of reviews to get through from places that Mystic and I visited when we were still together.

Onward!

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Sarah Caron says

    October 22, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    My heart breaks for you — but you are a strong, beautiful, wonderful, kind woman. You will survive, and thrive.
    Sarah Caron recently posted..Pumpkin Cheesecake Monkey Bread

    Reply
  2. SIL says

    October 23, 2012 at 6:17 am

    I’m so sorry to hear that. Know there is a great man out there waiting for you. It took me a long time to find mine but it was worth the wait.

    SIL

    Reply
  3. Joanne says

    October 23, 2012 at 6:31 am

    Ah my love. I second Sarah’s comment. It sucks right now I’m sure…but with each day it won’t hurt quite as much and one day a few months from now you’ll realize that you hadn’t thought about it at all the previous day. That’s just always the way it is.
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Lasagna Soup

    Reply
  4. paula says

    October 23, 2012 at 8:50 am

    I’m sorry. I had noticed that Mystic was no longer being mentioned but it didn’t seem likely that this was the reason.

    You’re right – there really isn’t a way to put a good spin on it, you just have to ride out the pain.
    paula recently posted..This blog is not dead. It’s just in a coma.

    Reply
  5. Laura says

    October 23, 2012 at 11:10 am

    thinking of only happiness for you…
    Laura recently posted..Fill In The Blank Friday….

    Reply
  6. patsy says

    October 23, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    I’m so sorry to hear this! As the others have said, it will hurt less with time. I also had noticed he wasn’t being mentioned much and wondered if something might have happened… I decided not to pry since sometimes personal things have to be worked through before you share them with the rest of the world. I’m sending big huge hugs your way as you work through it.
    patsy recently posted..Tate’s Bake Shop Baking for Friends {Chocolate Chip Muffins}

    Reply
  7. Michelle says

    October 23, 2012 at 6:44 pm

    Sending you hugs, Cate. So sorry to hear the news :(

    Reply
  8. Paula Ann says

    October 23, 2012 at 11:14 pm

    You are wise beyond your years, Cate. I so admire that you have been very selective in who you invite into your life. You are a bright, beautiful, talented girl with two wonderful children. There are great guys out there, and when the time is right, you’ll find the one who is meant to be with you. I’ve been there myself. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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