Thanks for all your good wishes. There have been lots of times when--well, I won't go there, but counseling is a great resource when you need it.
Janet, you are just a year older than my older son. Maybe YLF is finally the source for all those daughters I wanted but never had.
Cat, funny thing, the last few days I've been looking at emerald colored stones--mainly earrings. I have some peridot earrings and a light green tourmaline pendant, but I've been looking for some emerald colored stones. I also have some stone drop earrings but they aren't quite the right green and I want to start collecting more stud types. I didn't know 55 was the emerald anniversary. Thanks--I'm going back to look some more.
My parents were married for 64 years, but they had a more traditional 1950's era marriage. Although Dad didn't say much, he was the boss and left the daughters for my Mom to raise. One day a sister said to me that Mom should have had a career--that was so true.
Oh, and they were engaged 7 years (off and on according to Mom) before that--the Depression era.
My FIL died after 30 years of marriage. MIL married and divorced 2 more times before she found someone to last to the end.
I'm not sure what lessons can be learned here, but we're in a good place right now.
