lou = the link after a long and happy marriage never really goes away - certainly for most women. We move on and get lives, and find happiness, but honestly I think it is a bit like losing a sibling (my sister died when i was seventeen) They are always with you, and it gets to be in a better, if not always good, way. Life moves on. Most people I know in a successful second marriage tell me it is different. Good, but not quite the same.
Difficult/abusive first marriages are another story. But we were happy, and that takes a lot of getting over. More like widowhood.
This is the hardest thing I have done in a long life, but I have survived, and found joy. Read the story of Shadrach, Mishak and Abendigo, and listen to Sam West's sermon on this (google) and I thnk you will be moved and helped. he is a Brit who was Dean of Duke Divinity School/
