If I recall she didn't run off with the guy and "find her bliss" because she couldn't fathom hurting her kids or leaving them. I think the message was that she chose the life of boredom and routine for her kids. She chose against herself and her deepest desires. I don't think she cared much about her husband, it was just the kids that mattered. It really describes what most WAS feel like.
Roger Ebert summarized it this way: "The Bridges of Madison County is about two people who find the promise of perfect personal happiness, and understand, with sadness and acceptance, that the most important things in life are not always about making yourself happy."
I think somewhere in that statement is the dark lie that all WAS believe: "the promise of perfect, personal happiness". Hmmmmm.
The romance happened in the 1950's, I think and she had a choice between a dull life and running away with a stanger, which might have been true back then.
Today she would get a divorce, get half the farm, have Clint Eastwood move in and have a "blended family", where the kids get a new Stepdad. Ouch.
