My husband’s 60 th Birthday was 5 months after his death. I had planned to give him a surprise party before he unexpectedly passed away. I did not want that milestone to pass unnoticed. I invited about 30 family members and very close friends to my house for dinner and shared our loss and “celebrated” his 60th together. It was much better than spending that day alone and heartbroken. And we announced my daughters pregnancy with our first grandchild that day as well. So bittersweet. She was born on his first anniversary, showing us the amazing circle of life! Good luck with whatever you choose to do. I’m sure it will be right for you. And, congratulations, it still is your anniversary!

Thank.you, Msbklyn,. You have to be a strong woman, I don’t think I could of done that without breaking down. I am afraid of spending that time together with friends, I don’t want to make others miserable and not sure how I will be.handling things. Yes it is still our Anniversary!

Wish I had some good ideas for you; May would make 40 wedded years (we had 2 together before we married). 40 years is a long time to carry his name, and I feel like I should do something special for it, but I'm the only one that it really means anything to, so I'm kind of stuck as well.

We were pretty young, too, when we got together - 20 and 25 - so I thought we'd make it to 50 easily. We didn't, and it still hurts that we didn't get the chance.

I have thought about what Cliff would have wanted if he was still here for our 40th. Knowing him, something with a lot of loud live music and good multicultural food, someplace outdoors and pretty, with our diverse collection of friends and family. He was the shyest guy in the world, but he loved that sort of thing.

I'll probably spend the day crying my eyes out.... oh well....

Love and Big Hugs,
Martha

Cliffskat I also have thought about what Den would but I would imagine it would be a trip. I wouldn’t mind doing that but so many times a single traveler has to pay for 2 anyway. I was with my girlfriends last night and they want to take me to a nice restaurant. I will probably go home after and start the cry.
Hugs to you too. It’s still our anniversary.

HI, I celebrating our anniversaries privately since I still cry- we were married 29 years and he has been gone 3 years- still very painful. We grew up together and did everything together. Every year on the day that he passed away we go out to dinner together as a family to one of his favorite restaurants. We do this so that we can celebrate his life and the love that he gave all of us. I just do not want him forgotten. I also took us for granted, he was so strong and always there so I never thought I would lose him. You take care, lots of hugs-- 50 years awesome!

I'm so sorry for your loss. I share a similar story. My husband and I were married at 18 and 21. I never imagined us not making it to our golden anniversary, but he died 6 months before 50. (I was going to surprise him with a big party.)
Even though he's been gone for 13 years, I still acknowledge his birthday and our anniversary every year on social media. I love to tell everyone about the wonderfully honorable life he lived.
I really didn't want my husband to be forgotten, so I did a few things to remember him publicly. I went to Stamps.com and had a special stamp made of my husband. I think I ordered 100 or more of them and used them on thank you notes. Friends said they felt treasured to have that stamp.
Also, our town was putting in city benches and were asking for sponsors. The bench would have a plaque on it and we could have it engraved.
I sponsored a bench and had it engraved in honor of my husband. (I love it that the bench ended up next to the largest bed of flowers on Main Street, just as my husband would have loved it.)
Those were what helped me.
I wonder if you would enjoy a motorcycle ride with old friends or with new friends? Or it might help to find a completely new activity to do.

My husband and I were also married for 47 years when he passed away, 5 years ago. We had already been contemplating renewing our vows to celebrate our 50th in Hawaii in a cute little chapel right on the beach with family and a few close friends. We were (I still am) Disney fanatics, so Instead, our family decided to have a nice dinner at a favorite fancy restaurant in
Downtown Disney were we toasted our 50'years with champagne. It was poignant and emotional, but I needed to do something special that we both loved.