La Vie de Maria

The Story about Elsie, 80-yrs-old.

“I was young when I married my first husband. As you can see, I am not particularly attractive now, nor was I in my youth. I was, what you may call, a simple looking kind of girl. My husband, however, was very attractive, and I often wondered what he saw in me. After a while it seemed like he was asking himself the same question, because he was having many affairs, and ultimately we divorced, though we did produce two beautiful daughters who were fortunate enough to have their father’s looks.

I decided to stay single, as I felt that I cannot trust men, but then met my second husband who vigorously courted me. My daughters encouraged me to marry him as he seemed to them like a very solid citizen. That he was, but at the same time he was extremely boring, very dry and not verbal at all. Even though I regretted the marriage, I felt that he was a good provider – loyal and decent. Fortunately, he died of a sudden heart attack about twelve years ago. I know that it sounds heartless, but I felt like I could have my life back.

Again, I decided to stay single, and this time I was very adamant about it, which is kind of ironic, because I did not have any suitors anyway. I was 68 years old, still plain-looking and not interested in men.

I was acquainted with my then husband-to- be because we belonged to a bridge club. However, I never bothered to get to know him, as I was married and so was he. So, in the meanwhile, I was busy getting my life back together, and I didn’t realize that his wife died as well.

One day my phone rang and it was him, asking me if I wanted to go to a concert with him. Well, I loved classical music, so I said yes. We went to the concert, and then we had a drink, and the rest is history.

We fell madly in love – he was about 73 at the time, and I was approaching 69. I know it’s hard to imagine that people my age, and with my looks, can fall passionately in love – but that’s what happened.

From that day on, we tried to spend all our time together. Granted, his daughter did not like me (and she still does not), but the rest of his family said I’m the best thing that ever happend to him. And, I know that he is the best thing that ever happened to me. Unlike it was with our deceased spouses, we go to concerts and plays, which we both love - and we travel three times a year to exotic locations. We just cannot wait to go on our next expedition!

We are best friends. We share everything together; we love doing the same things, and we would rather be with each other than with anyone else. Rachel, I know that in your therapist’s head you are trying to figure out what was it that I did differently … what with this being the third time around. Well, I don’t want to break your bubble, but the answer is nothing. I am simply the luckiest woman in the world. It was pure luck!”