Dear Abby: I lost my husband two months ago after a long, debilitating illness. I loved him very much, and the loss was very difficult, although not unexpected.

After his funeral, an old friend called me offering condolences. He had lost his wife last year after a long illness, and he understood what I had been through. We both had lost spouses after marriages that had lasted 50 years. We remain in touch and would like to start dating. On one hand, I feel I gave my husband everything I had to give while he was alive. On the other hand, I don’t want to be disrespectful to him, my children, and my husband’s family. Is it too soon?

—Ready Now in Texas

Dear Ready Now: While there is no strict timetable for grieving, and you may have started processing your loss before your husband’s actual

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