Sometimes what lingers isn’t absence.
It’s the quiet memory of presence.

A chair no one sits in. A spoon clinking gently against a mug meant for two. Meals still cooked for more than needed, not out of forgetfulness, but out of something more tender: habit, love, memory.

This isn't grief in the traditional sense. It's what love becomes when it no longer has a schedule.

A recent reflection captures this feeling in a way that may resonate with anyone who’s ever felt the bittersweet quiet of an evolving home:

The House That Still Sets One Extra Plate

It speaks to:

The spaces that remember even when no one else does,

The rituals that continue without applause,

And the deep ache of loving without needing a reply.

If you’ve ever folded napkins with too much care, cooked for someone who’s not coming, or turned on a light “just in case,” this might be for you.

Sometimes, we don’t stop the rituals because someone is watching.
We continue because love, even from a distance, still deserves a place at the table.