It’s been 139 days since Mr. Bradley danced his last dance on earth. He died 139 days ago and upgraded his humble abode on earth for a home in heaven.
It’s been 139 days of:
Going here and there.
Buying this and that.
Saying yes and no.
Eating right or fast.
Roughly 3,336 hours of learning a different rhythm. The thought of him is never far. It’s a sweet sounding harmony uniquely tuned for my heart, mind and soul to recognize.
We have experienced many firsts in those 139 days. Nostalgia has become a familiar melody and a soothing companion. I remember the first time Mr. Bradley told me he loved me. It was outside, a sunny afternoon. I was a senior at San Pasqual High School, living in Escondido and he was a senior at San Diego State University, living in San Diego. He told me over the phone and in another language. He said it in Spanish. His love was bilingual. Te quiero. Two words. Eight characters. The sum of our love story.
I remember one of our first “solo” dates. It was a wedding. He was a maniac on the dance floor. Do you know what a dance circle is? Before I knew what was happening he was in the middle of one, doing a ridiculous and over the top breakdance move called the worm. I was wearing a royal blue and black pant suit with black platform heels and my hair was in an updo. He was wearing brown corduroy pants (with a black belt above the waist) and a black turtleneck sweater. He had lots of hair on his face and head.
I remember the first time we took dance lessons. I was tortured. He was elated. I wanted to follow the rules. He wanted to make his own rules. We were in a room with several other couples and he was clearly not following instructions. When I confronted him about his rhythmic waywardness, he smirked and quickly responded, “I dance to the beat of my own drum.” He sure did. My feet fell victim to his unassisted style.
I remember the weekend before his earthly departure. We were at a wedding. My brother married the love of his life 144 days ago on March 12, 2016. Mr. Bradley was a maniac on the dance floor again and for the last time on this earth. I took a video of him with a royal blue necktie wrapped around his bald head, dancing to the popular YMCA song. He enjoyed moving to whatever beat. It was at this wedding we experienced our last dance circle on earth. Our family was together and we danced the night away. I remembered he made it a point to dance with Grace at the wedding. Insert tears here…
It’s my 20 year high school reunion tomorrow night. I will be celebrating two things, 20 years of life after high school and 20 years of my bilingual love story.
Tomorrow night I have a choice to sit it out or dance.
Tomorrow night I will choose to dance.
Warning to all #sanpasqualclassof1996. This time I’ll be the maniac on the dance floor and I’m dancing like I’ve never danced before.
#bestwidowever,
-Adriana
Two scripture verses I’ll be thinking about as I dance.
- Psalm 30:11: You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.
- Ecclesiastes 3:4: A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
Soundtrack of my current journey and songs that will trigger instant dance parties in my heart, mind and soul.
- I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack
- Oceans by Hillsong United
- Flashdance, Final Dance – What A Feeling by
- Save The Last Dance For Me by Michael Buble
- Dancing Queen by Abba
- Stayin’ Alive by Bee Gees
- Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor
Adriana Bradley is a Pastor at Centerpoint Church in Murrieta, CA. Making God smile is her heart’s desire. One of her greatest joys is seeing others do the same. Words which best describe Adriana are vintage and bright. Adriana breaks for garage sales and transforms trash into treasures with lots of vision and a little laughter.
This theme of transformation is not limited to objects, but to her own life as she is learning to live without her soul mate of 19 years, Eric Bradley. Eric died in a surfing accident on March 17, 2016. Adriana is claiming to be the #bestwidowever and mom to five beautiful human beings, Grace (17), Samuel (14), Benjamin (12), Joshua (10), and Harmony (8).
Adriana self published a children’s bilingual alphabet book and most current project is Covert Operation 19. An adventure full of is risks without risking her life. She will share the material on the www.bestwidowever.com website as a way to encourage others to pursue new adventures with a spectacular surrender, risking it all without risking her life.
Stay tuned. Adriana has served God all over the state of California, in Murrieta, Escondido, San Pedro, Santa Monica, Santa Maria, San Francisco and overseas in Saint Petersburg, Russia and Mallorca, Spain.
❤️
Thank you Tess for reading and commenting.
Adriana you have once again touched my heart deeply. Your courage and resolve has injected me with new hope after a very low week. 20 years ago I passed the test of what it means to be the best widow ever and I am thankful for how the Lord has blessed and carried me through the years. Never in a million years did I ever think you would walk the widow’s journey. You are not only the best widow ever you are a champion! Now I, as well as many before me am searching for a name for a mother who has lost a child no matter what age that person was. The best that I can come up with is that I will always be a child of God who trusts her Heavenly Father to know what is best no matter what life brings. Part of that best was you who loved my son with all her heart and made his life so special. Keep on dancing Adriana because I know Eric is dancing his heart out on the heavenly shores.
Charleen, Insert many tears here. Crying all through your comment. You are so special to me.
Dear Charleen and Arianna,
Your love and respect for each other as mother and daughter in laws is such a blessing to witness. When my daughter in law married my son, I created the phrase “Daughter -In-LOVE”. Charles is definitely a ‘Mother-In-LOVE”. Adrianna, the opitamy of a woman in love with her husband, God, Children and family.
It’s hard to define the mothers who have lost their Children. I thought “M”Orphan was unique, inadequate at best, but that definition is already in use for us. I like hot description “A child of the most high God”. We truly must rely on His timing, and trust in His grace.
Arianna, Thank you for your willingness to share, I know there where many tears as you wrote, listened to music, prepared for your reunion, and leaned on God to get you through this new experience without your husband by your side.
He captures every tear we cry and promises to usher us into a new dance as we expectantly wait on His healing Grace.
Precious Julie, Thank you for your encouragement. Our God is a great dance instructor and partner. He is leading and together we are dancing like never before.
Dear Dancing Queen,
I love you and all the wonderful ways you share your grief journey with us. God has given you so much grace! I need to see the picture of him with the tie on his head!
Dear Friend,
I’m posting the picture and video for sure!
You are an amazing woman!!! You inspire me so much!! I love you!
So thankful for you Daniella Ross!
Thank you Adriana! Wow! I could feel all emotions in your writing!
My late husband and yours are most likely dance buddies in heaven. Mine with his Monty Python Gumby hat (gotta look it up)
And yours with his tie around his head, both dancing with no inhibition whatsoever!
It also makes me happy to know you are dancing with joy during your reunion.
Love and hugs!
Deb
So thankful for your words of encouragement Deb. I know the Monty Python Gumby Hat! I hope to post a video of my maniacal dancing tomorrow night! Watch for it.
OK so I cried through this whole thing. I was amazed, sad, happy and thanking God for His wonderful grace. I know the loss, in a different way – but I know it. I can not even begin to tell you what a wonderful woman and witness you are. Thank you for opening your heart – for sharing your journey.
DeMarie, I cried so much I couldn’t finish it. I started listening to all the songs I listed at the end of the blog to push through. The songs made me cry even harder! LOL! actually I was COL – crying out loud. LOVE YOU