Catherine Tidd

Catherine Tidd is a widow, a writer, public speaker, and mother to three young entertaining children. She received a degree in English from Rollins College in 1998 and has since worked as a writer, editor, Marketing Manager, and Event Planner. Originally from Louisiana, Ms. Tidd currently lives in Denver, CO.

Articles:

Dealing With the Winter Blues

“I don’t feel good,” I said to my sister. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me or why…but I don’t.” The moment the words left my mouth, I had a revelation. I say the same thing, the same thing, every year at this time. I don’t know why. I truly don’t feel like it’s the post-holiday blues. I don’t feel like it’s that two of my kids’ birthdays are back-to-back within a few weeks of each other (which certainly has me a little sad…but in a very aware sort of way). In the beginning, I even thought it was the Superbowl […]

He is Missed

I was at the mall alone, returning a few things from the holidays, looking at clothes that the “experts” say are in style (did anyone really perfect the poncho look?), and generally just enjoying shopping without having to worry about whether or not my kids would knock over an entire display of purses…when something happened that hadn’t happened to me in a while. As I was leaving a store, I felt a tap on my shoulder and when I turned around a woman said to me, “I know you.” And I said, “I know you, too.” But I couldn’t quite […]

Death of Spouse Prompts Re-assessment of Life

I read something recently that I wanted to share with you that I think articulates part of the miracle…yes, I did say miracle…of loss. Not the loss itself, of course…but what our (dare I say) rebirth when it happens. Mark Mettousek said: “It seems perverse that authenticity should stem from loss. The outline cracks, you split apart, half of you is left stranded on an iceberg floating into the chilly distance. You’re suspended in partiality, cut off from who you thought you were. This is when questioning starts, that’s the truth – when you can’t put yourself back together again, […]

The Truth Behind the ‘Considerate Griever’

Throughout the last few years, I have thought a lot about how we all handle widowhood differently. We all move at our own pace and grieve within our own comfort zone. It’s been interesting to me the way I’ve grieved. For the most part, I consider myself a pretty private person when it comes to just letting go. I’ve never even really cried during group “therapy” because I was afraid of looking “stupid” (I know…that’s stupid, but there you have it). In fact, I remember being at one ceremony with a young widows group that was really meant to be […]

Widowhood: The TV Reality Series

Do you ever think that the networks are missing out on the ultimate reality series? What has more drama, sick humor, running mascara, and (sometimes) hair-pulling than widowhood? When I think of the millions that could have been made on my life in the last few years, it seems like such a waste. Anyone with a camcorder could have followed me around discreetly as I annoyed family members, shocked random bystanders, and started my own wine bottle recycling program and they would have been set for life. (If you’re reading this and you’re a producer, shoot me an email.) Forgive […]

Maintaining Friendships After a Spouse-Loss

I’ve been thinking a lot about friendships lately and how they change and I know that’s also on the minds of many of my widow(er) friends out there. I guess it’s that time of year…when friends and family seem to get together more than usual, so friendships and how they change are pretty much “in your face” right now. This is something I’ve wanted to write for a long time, but I wanted to write it very carefully. I don’t ever want to come across as someone who doesn’t understand or who dismisses how hard widowhood can be. Believe me…I’m […]

Returning to the Hospital Stirs Fears, Hopes

I recently experienced a personal milestone that may not seem like much to the outside world. But it’s something that I know other widows who are trying to navigate this road will understand. I went to a doctor’s appointment with someone I have been dating to find out whether he was really sick…or just in excruciating pain. The appointment wasn’t IN the hospital but it was in an office within a block of the hospital, an area I’ve avoided for the past 4 years, since my husband died. The good news is that the doctor believes that what they had […]

How Am I Doing? Look at My Toes

Don’t judge me when I say this … but I could easily get addicted to pedicures. Now, for you men who are reading this, this is not just a girl thing. Any guy who has had a pedicure before will tell you he’ll be back for more. And any woman will tell you, we wish you would get them more often. That sound of Velcro as your heels hit the sheets is not as endearing as you might think. Before my husband died, I had had one pedicure in my entire life. I am usually not embarrassed to say that […]

Widows: Is it Time for Us to Tune Out?

Is it just me…or does it seem like the world is going to heck in a hand-basket? Earthquakes, nuclear explosions, tsunamis, idiots in government. I hear even that sweet, young man, Charlie Sheen, is having issues. Everything that is going on in the world today is enough to overwhelm anyone if they really let it sink in. And I feel like, as widows, when we let something sink in…it sinks. We’ve had ringside seats to the fragility of life and that little mental picture is something that will never go away. When we see disaster, we’re picturing the family members […]

Deaths of Husbands Bond Two Young Widows

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” –Unknown My friend’s husband recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. But as we all know…it doesn’t matter how long you’ve “known”…it’s always a shock when that moment comes. We were always meant to be friends, and I think we were always meant to have a place in each other’s lives. Our friendship is unusual because in the two years we’ve known each other, I’ve never once met her husband. He had been sick the entire time I’ve […]

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