Linda,
I have not been on the Olivia site for awhile, but checked my old "e-haunts"and saw your post from way back in June. Sorry I did not see this sooner, I am astounded there have been no replies. Maybe folks just don't know what to say that might be comforting to you. That's how it so often is when someone dies.
I am wondering how you are doing, another half year later? What a terrible shock to your life, to lose your long-term partner and basically the whole life you had going with her. Truthfully I don't know how you ever get over something like that or if it is possible to heal completely from such a deep wound. When I was going through a terrible loss of my 9-year relationship (not to death, but may as well have been), somebody said to me "your heart is broken now, but it will get up and walk again someday....just maybe with a limp." I guess everything big that happens in our lives changes us in ways we might never imagine, but I just wanted to reach out to you and tell you how moved I was by what you wrote. If you still want anyone to talk to, just write me back. I'm in the Pacific NW by the way.
Karen