In her own words, 2018
October 6, 2020
When I moved from Montclair, NJ to Los Angeles in 1997, my life took a major swerve. Ready to leave my (over) work and big old house, I had agreed to become a trailing wife in a new city. My son Michael already lived in San Francisco. Adam was destined to show up in LA. We became a West Coast family, just like that!
I adjusted to LA within 5 minutes, although I got lost driving for about a year, until a friend told me to remember that the ocean was on the wrong side. These tidbits make life livable. Once I got here, of course I got a job in Massachusetts. Every summer for 14 years I spent a month teaching at Smith School of Social Work and then spent a month in the Berkshires. I had a job in LA at a mental health center that gave me summers off, so I became bicoastal.
But all the fun died when my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was treated (tortured) for four years and died in 2008. He did live long enough to dance at Michael’s wedding and meet his grandson, James. I must say that being widowed is an unbelievable blow. I felt that part of my self was gone and I was very out of balance for about two years. But I woke up one morning and realized I’d not only be okay, but was free to live my life however I pleased. And I have!
I’ve traveled to faraway places. I found a whole new community by joining a temple. I am living the single life that was so short in my youth. I do only work that interests and stimulates me. I belong to three book groups and a Torah study group.
My younger son got married and had two daughters. I still pinch myself that I have three grandchildren, but my heart hurst when I think that they will never know their grandfather Arthur.
Then, the unexpected happened: a romance! A man phoned me, took me out, pursued me. Very old fashioned. As charmed by him as I was, I was afraid to give up a life that revolved mourned me me me. But I’m adjusting. He’s a keeper who’s brought love and romance into my life. I’m looking forward to more of life’s surprises.
I adjusted to LA within 5 minutes, although I got lost driving for about a year, until a friend told me to remember that the ocean was on the wrong side. These tidbits make life livable. Once I got here, of course I got a job in Massachusetts. Every summer for 14 years I spent a month teaching at Smith School of Social Work and then spent a month in the Berkshires. I had a job in LA at a mental health center that gave me summers off, so I became bicoastal.
But all the fun died when my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was treated (tortured) for four years and died in 2008. He did live long enough to dance at Michael’s wedding and meet his grandson, James. I must say that being widowed is an unbelievable blow. I felt that part of my self was gone and I was very out of balance for about two years. But I woke up one morning and realized I’d not only be okay, but was free to live my life however I pleased. And I have!
I’ve traveled to faraway places. I found a whole new community by joining a temple. I am living the single life that was so short in my youth. I do only work that interests and stimulates me. I belong to three book groups and a Torah study group.
My younger son got married and had two daughters. I still pinch myself that I have three grandchildren, but my heart hurst when I think that they will never know their grandfather Arthur.
Then, the unexpected happened: a romance! A man phoned me, took me out, pursued me. Very old fashioned. As charmed by him as I was, I was afraid to give up a life that revolved mourned me me me. But I’m adjusting. He’s a keeper who’s brought love and romance into my life. I’m looking forward to more of life’s surprises.