Thank you Sandi2 and Gordie, I read your messages right before I left to the courthouse and they brightened my day a little, so thank you for reaching out.

So the hearing went about as expected. I got there and checked in with the bailif, she had not arrived yet, so I sat down, put on my headphones and started listening to my workout music. I wanted to do anything I could to keep the tears away, I was mostly successful in that regard.

She arrived, checked in and sat down at the other end of the bench that I was on (outside of the courtroom), I didn't look at or acknowledge her, I just kept to myself. About 5 minutes later her mother walked in and tried to hug me. I just shook my head "no" (not that I don't like her mother, I just was trying to stay unemotional) and she went and hugged her daughter. That attempt at a hug brought on some tears, so I got up and walked around the hallway and looked at the view (you can see the ocean from the floor I was on), managing to calm myself down.

About 10 minutes later they called everyone into the courthouse, and I sat on a bench alone. The process was pretty cut and dry, the judge called a couple up one at a time (or anyone else there for family court such as name changes, etc.), for the Divorces he asked a few questions that are required, Is this marriage really un-savable or are there courses that can be offered to help, has one of you lived in the county for 6 months, have all assets and debt been split in an agreeable manner, etc. Then he simply stated that the divorce would be granted and signed the paperwork.

There were only about 15 people in the room, so the whole process only took about 10 minutes, then I went downstairs to get certified copies and was out of the courthouse within 45 minutes.

There were couples divorcing that were standing together, talking and in good spirits, obviously both agreed the marriage was not good, but didn't have ill will towards the other person, that's how a R should end. I was the only person who was tearing up, although my ex did seem a little sad. I kind of felt like a fraud saying the marriage was un-savable since there was never an attempt to even try, but I know it is un-savable when someone isn't even willing to communicate, so I agreed.

Afterwards, I went to my moms house, we went out to lunch, then we hung out at the house until I left for my flight. Overall, I was in a pretty good state and didn't find the process as difficult as I had feared. I was doing pretty good last night when I got home too and slept fine.

Right now I'm pretty sad, but I know that good things are to come and my M ended a LONG time ago, not just yesterday.


M - 9 1/2 years
5/5/16 - Bomb drop - 3 week EA
10/31/16 - We sold house
01/10/18 - D Finalized