A marriage dissolving . . .

in a small city brings about interesting social twists and turns.

You're forced to redefine (and sometimes terminate)long term "couple" friendships
that seem to turn strange rather quickly once the break-up occurs.

The same holds true for close girlfriends whose insecure husbands don't want them keeping too much company with the 'newly divorcee.'

Acquaintances ask probing, inappropriate questions -- hoping for something of a tabloid headline -- then looking disappointed when you don't give them what they want.

Friends assume that you want another man immediately and try to fix you up with friends of friends.

And other men -- including friends of your ex -- assume that you are easy 'prey' and hit on you shamelessly.

And then, there's your pending ex who you don't love but you don't hate, either. Who comes around most daily to take the kids somewhere. And looks at you as if you've pierced his heart with a knife.

It would be so much easier if you were free to move far away. And you yearn to right now. But right now it can't happen because of your kids. Who need everyone relatively close by, most of the time anyway, for a couple of more years.

So you commit to hold out, knowing, deep in your gut that you made the right decision. You pledge that you will not get emotionally involved with anyone who isn't for whom your soul thirsts. And if that means being forever alone, then so be it.

Yes, you've given yourself a gift. 'To thine own self be true.'

But it still sucks.

This marriage dissolving.