So now I'm divorced. My wife dropped off some things today while I was at work. She is moving overseas next week to be with the OM. For those who don't know, we've been separated since May.

Some of the things she dropped off were items she had borrowed while she lived in her apartment during our separation, dishes, towels, glasses, etc. It did hurt to see that she gave me back some framed pictures I had made for her and a wooden box that had been a gift. I felt really depressed digging through the stuff. I don't really know what to do with the bedsheets that she and the OM slept on while he was in town to see her..

The last couple of weeks have been hard as I've been going through the house boxing up her nick nacks etc. I threw out some things, but others I just boxed up, I guess for emotional reasons.
What do most people do with their former spouses stuff?

Currently, I'm mad because she has left the city and that I am still here, in our house, with our stuff. She has a new life with someone else to love, and I am left here alone. Plus my favorite time of the year is approaching, Fall!

Fall usually meant spending time snuggling on the couch or just sitting outside in the cool air with my wife. I always looked forward to Fall and remember it as a fun time of year. However, this year it seems depressing and
lonely.

I know I have come a long ways since this traumatic experience has started but this week
I realized I have only just begun the journey. I also go back and forth between wanting to fall in love again to never wanting to date.
Is this normal?

Sorry for the rant, but I’m feeling pretty depressed at the finality of the divorce. I felt a rush of emotions in the last couple of days that I haven’t felt since my WS moved out. Sort of déjà vu, in a bad way.

I'm sorry to here that you are feel down. It is very normal to feel this way and it is very hard. Let yourself grieve and hopeful understand it is part of the heeling process. The aloneness is a terrible feeling and it sucks. I'm sure her bringing things back is like adding salt to a wound and must hurt deeply, as do the memories of fall.

As far as the stuff from the former spouse, I think it is best to pack them for a while. At least until a point in your life when you have put things into perspective. Remember that your past relationship is part of who you are and while things are looking very gloomy, one day maybe you will be able to think about the positive things in your relationship without it hurting so much.

Take care of yourself and rely on friends. You don't have to go through this by yourself.