"Over the years, I came to recognize that someday I might lose my husband, and that it would be a catastrophic loss. What I never expected was that along with the horrific pain, I would also lose a huge piece of my identity and my life as I knew it." Thus began Arlene Sacks' journey of loss, grief and healing, after the illness and death of Howard, her beloved spouse of forty-seven years. As Sacks gathered her thoughts and memories in preparation for writing "Moving Forward," she came to see that, although widows might share some common ground, no one story of widowhood could capture the whole of its challenges or provide the widest range of wisdom gained from that experience. There is no "best" way to move forward after losing a life partner, but this book is filled with the stories of Sacks' journey interwoven with the experiences and influences of thirteen other strong, sensitive and generous widows. Together they provide a roadmap over the perilous ground of loss and the life that follows. --Back cover.