We met a nice couple on a cruise several years ago and had dinner with them every night. When they visited Fort Lauderdale a few years ago we spent the day together and we've kept in touch.Truth be told, I did not give this "friendship" much thought. But yesterday I received her annual Christmas card and letter and was shocked to learn that their marriage of 47 years had broken up. They have a special needs grandson and some other family problems I believe, but they seemed happy together. They loved to travel and were constantly on the move with road trips and cruises.
To say I was shocked is an understatement. According to the letter, her husband is in Las Vegas under the influence of "casino friends". Perhaps this retired civil servant has developed a strange gambling habit in his retirement?
I am not naive. I've seen marriages of 25, 35 and now 45 years plus break apart. But I like to think of the "golden years" as the time to get closer, to finally have time to reconnect with the person you wanted to marry in the first place, to travel if you want or pursue the good times you put on hold, or just to hang out together. That's how it should be and I am deeply saddened when it's not.
:-(
No comments:
Post a Comment