A few days ago I was about to enter the local supermarket when out walked a lady pushing a full shopping cart to her car. I've known her for most of 60 years but her husband only for about 15 years when they moved back home to a spot about a mile from me. We exchanged pleasantries before I turned to walk into the store. Her husband was standing there. He looked me square in the face and asked me, "Are you married?" That struck me odd as he knows my wife. I answered him, though, with "Yes." He said, "I wish I wasn't." He was dead serious.
I've thought about that 50 times since then. Should I have a chat with her brother to sort of inquire without coming right out and telling him what was said? Should I simply forget about it? Maybe he's starting to have some mental issues as well as the phsyical problems I know about.
Sorry. Double posted. Deleted the one you apparently had added a comment to without realizing you had done so.
I think I can remember the post. My wife and I were going for a walk and a neighbor from a couple of blocks away said, "Are you happily married?" We said we were, as is true, and he replied, "My wife left me."
How sad. On the other hand he consoled himself with a new blue Corvette, so life isn't all bad.
A new blue Corvette does sound nice. But, I would need to build a proper garage to lock it in. Then the County Appraiser would stop by my place to assess it and then look around at everything else that has changed since her last visit and raise my property taxes accordingly. Then the tags, taxes and auto insurance would go up. My regular home insurance would go up.
Cheaper to keep the wife.
Over 40 years ago I ran into a buddy from college at a National level meeting for engineers. He was depressed as he had recently divorced his wife. The full story was that she insisted he get "neutered" to prevent the possibility of her getting pregnant. Shortly after the procedure had been performed, he caught her having an affair with her boss..............who hadn't been "neutered". Thus, the divorce.
If only the boss had been neutered................
A couple of months ago, a friend of mine, who owned a survey/engineering firm; had his wife of 46 years leave him. While he didn't have a license, he employed competent people and ran a decent business. She cut all ties to the business and moved to Florida with their adult son and daughter.
My friend was a functioning alcoholic; he couldn't function without alcohol in his system.
Probably the main reason she left. He was also deep in debt.
He committed suicide last week.
A permanent solution to a temporary problem
May he rest in Peace...
Should I simply forget about it?
Yes! From previous posts I know you know everybody within a 500 mile radius of Spud, Snarke, or whatever it's named. That said, let him tell someone else, and if he really hates being married you can bet he will. That way you won't be viewed by your peers as a nosey old fart who sticks his nose in other peoples problems and ultimately is blamed for their divorce.
If you are going to be a good neighbor, I would try to speak to him directly about his quick comment at the store.
He may need some sort of happy pill. Who knows?
Talking to anyone else seems very weird to me
I have known personally two couples who divorced after more than 50 years of marriage. In one case it was because the old man had a girlfriend he preferred. In the other case it was the old lady protecting her assets because the husband had become convinced he could play the commodities markets and get rich. He didn't, by the way. A different couple split the sheets after 40 years. She had spent most of those years working the night shift. When she stopped working the night shift they found they had too much time to spend together and that DID NOT GO WELL. They began trying to run each other's lives.
My neighbors have been married somewhere around 45 years and have no children.
Jesus ...that's horrible. I'm sorry for your loss deepest condolences, that's a huge deal.
He said, "I wish I wasn't." He was dead serious.
When someone makes a comment like this, coming out of a grocery store; he's wearing his heart on his sleeve...
You don't necessarily need to give him advice. The best thing you you can do is listen.
Be a good listener.
Thanks @jitterboogie, for the kind comments; life will go on
You can't unhear that; you can't unsee that; all you can do is move on...
