Married at fiftyI thought I’d finally found happiness, but I never imagined what was in store for me
Im one of those men who tied the knot later in life. Sadly, that late-blooming relationship didnt last.
All my mates used to say I was the nitpickerI always loved to learn new things. After completing my masters degree, I took up a post as a librarian. A friend introduced me to the woman who would become my wife. She was 59 then, not desperate in the least, just looking for the right companion. I was nine years her junior. Margaret swept into my heart straight away. She was well-educated, polite, and had a real passion for poetry and literature. We began talking, and after a few months, I proposed.
She said yes. Id always dreamed of having a family. After we married, I moved in with her, as her daughter and her family were living in her home. To tell the truth, I had no idea what I was getting into. I had always lived alone, and suddenly everything was differentI was unsettled. A stain on the tablecloth, a rumpled duvet, socks strewn everywhere, and all manner of odd bits and pieces that just werent in my plans Quite frankly, every little thing was getting on my nerves. It felt as though she thought she was at a hotel, while I was left managing all the chores. She often had money troubles as well. I completely lost my cool one day when, instead of fixing a leaky tap, she managed to break it even furtherthen finally called in the plumber. Family squabblesthey can be far from fun.
That day, I realised I wasnt willing to grin and bear it; we were both adults, set in our ways. Not long after, we sat down for a proper talkturns out, she was perfectly content with how things were. Im naturally easy-going and steer away from any fuss or drama. Still, it proved impossible to come to a quiet understanding: Margarets daughter had her own plans for that flat, assuming her mother would always be living with me. Nearly three months on, she finally agreed to the divorce. She even asked for all the gifts shed given me to be returned. Handing back the waste bin and her old necklace didnt bother me at all.
This whole experience left me wondering: is it truly possible to find lasting family happiness after reaching fifty? What Ive learnt is that love later in life is differentwhile we hope for a calm harbour, we sometimes find ourselves adrift, and thats alright. Ive learnt to value my own peaceand thats a happiness all its own.
