We were cyber commiserating once again, not quite understanding now a friend of ours had not only sailed through a separation, subsequent divorce, selling of the family home, relocation for all family members while getting in the best shape of her life, and quite frankly - blossoming into this magnificent woman. This could not be happening. Of the 3 of us, we considered her to be the neediest. Yet here we were, sniffling and whining, counting the medications that we had collectively been put on since learning about the despicable and devasting wanton behavior by our not quite beloved husbands as they traipsed through their mid life crisis'. They fell one after the other like dominos. We were 2 years and 1 year out of the day in our lives that time stood still, wafted once again and through us into the walls of our homes in exactly 9,467 pieces. We're still looking for some of those pieces. Some of them were actually quite good, the parts we lost.

What we had gained were various medical conditions, weight, on and off drinking issues, trust, the meaning to our lives...

We consided ourselves to be Paragons of Goodness. The golden rule held us upright. We gave to the poor, the homeless, our children, our community, our church, our friends, our insufferable in laws, our husbands ad nauseam...for what? We worked, we cleaned, we cooked, we entertained in style, we bought gifts, remembered birthdays, sent cards, read books, led committees, supported these same husbands, and for what?

That was what we still asked ourselves.