Situation: Alex had been married for a twenty-plus years when his wife died of a sudden illness. He considered his marriage 'good,' but wasn't going to mope around grieving, and let the rest of Life pass him by. Alex had several teen-age children. One month after his wife's death, Alex met Faye. She was much younger, vibrant, and fun to be with. Faye had been married once, only for a year, fourteen years previously, had no children. They were very much attracted to each other and soon dated exclusively. Alex wanted to get married again.
Lessons learned: For one thing, Alex soon learned that a suddenly eligible bachelor of his stature (tall, good-looking, great job, stable) would be besieged by offers from nearly any single woman who had ever known him. Several women called him up from the airport, "I'm so sorry about your wife. I want to help console you." He was pleased that Faye came to the airport with him to welcome them for their short visits.
Alex didn't realize that he had to approach a new marriage somewhat slower than his intentions. He needed to give himself a few months to get adjusted to a new life, especially after a twenty-plus years' marriage. Marriage on 'the rebound,' immediately after a break-up with any close attachment, is never a good idea. It takes time to heal.
Outcome: Faye was a wise woman. She loved Alex dearly and told him, "I won't marry you until at least a year has passed since your wife's death. They married after a year passed and are still very happily married with their own offspring. Don't you love happy endings!
No comments:
Post a Comment