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These days, my wife and I communicate daily, often many times per day, either by phone, text, e-mail or the odd conversation through our car windows in a parking lot. We have much to talk about; raising three teenagers is busy at the best of times and we also talk about our jobs, house-selling issues and the division of our "stuff." Despite all this contact, we rarely see each other face-to-face for any length of time.
In the past two months, her tone in these conversations has been kind, funny, thoughtful of my feelings, compassionate, helpful and oddly hesitant. She's been so sweet with me that is is nauseating. I just don't get it!
After one such conversation, I turned to a colleague (who was within earshot of my end of the conversation) I said, "Fuck... if I'd have known that she would be this nice, I would have divorced twelve years ago!!) It's the truth.
It is a stark contrast from some of my posts from 11 months ago when my wife finally realized that my gayness could not be just "wished" away. She just moved out of the house permanently but the kids stayed with me. I hadn't yet come out to anyone but my wife had already known about my attraction to men for about a year.
It was pretty painful reading... it was a pretty bleak, desperate time. In fact, some of the crazy behaviour was just too upsetting to blog about and I had "un-posted" several posts I had written at that time.
After she moved out, I was on the receiving end of much abuse, sobbing, screaming, throwing of furniture, name-calling, slamming-down of the phone and threats to burn down my house with gasoline. There'd be a lull of a few days, then the abuse would start up again. You must understand that at that time, she felt that she had lost "everything" in her life in one fell swoop... the husband she once loved and thought she knew, marriage and her home. Worse of all, she thought she had lost all of her children, the most important things in her life. The devastation could not have been more complete.
Yesterday, we worked together for about 4 hours; she was the head volunteer running a community charity event and they were short their mandated quota of workers. She asked my daughter and I to work at the event as well. I actually had no desire to work at this event and would have much preferred to spend the Sunday afternoon
As we arrived at the event, I was very stressed-out especially when my wife seemed highly distracted and wouldn't look me in the eye. I later thought that this was mainly due to the demands of her job at that time, particularly difficult for a person with A.D.D. Later on, we did speak in more friendly manner. During the event, she brought me something to drink and thanked me profusely when I left.
I would never have thought we could reach this state of friendliness. It's like a love-in. Good friends and colleagues who know both of us are now predicting that we will end up as good friends, maybe even best friends, one this is over. I'm still a bit doubtful about that... we'll see... but they may be right.
This is hopeful that you guys can maintain a good relationship. Although, as circumstances change, so might the cordiality. Who knows what will happen when everything's divided and the house is sold, or the kids get married, or when you find someone else? Enjoy it day by day and hope it lasts.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for the post in which she asks you to give her away when she marries again. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI so hope it DOES lead to a friendship. It should you know. I am saying that maybe more for myself perhaps. I believe this "issue" has ruined my friendship with my wife. And hope the distance after will repair it. I read you blog and hope it is like a window into the future for me and my wife.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to read that she's adjusting to the new situation. Hopefully the relationship will continue to improve.
ReplyDeleteEveryone, thank you for commenting! Yes, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop... I can't believe the change in the way she treats me. But we've overcome so many challenges so far, I have a feeling we might manage to navigate the big challenges which are coming up.
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest test will be when I starting dating or having sex with other guys and maybe even get a steady boyfriend. I actually had a dream the other day where I was getting married to some sweet guy and it was my wife who gave me away at my wedding. Bizarre!
good for you that things are working out!
ReplyDeletespeaking of working out, I'd LOVE to work on and with guy #2; such a wonderful treasure trail alllllll over!
Maybe her medication has kicked in? In any case, at least you're civil to each other and that's a start.
ReplyDeleteOur stories are parallel in that my ex left (I told her she had to go because she was running around with a sleaze, being exceptionally cruel to me, and mistreating my daughters physically and psychologically), I eventually got full custody of my girls and the house in which to raise them. In my case, there was never a return to pleasantness on her part and she is now someone I do not care to know.
ReplyDeleteIf you can work through the hostility of the past and establish a decent working relationship you will have done a great thing for yourself and
your family. I so wish you the very best of luck.