This column is for every woman who has ever said (or thought) “All men are pigs.” It’s for all the cynics who believe there is no such thing as a good marriage. It’s for everyone who’s feeling a little bummed out about love.
Sherry: “Three years ago, I decided to run the Chicago Marathon. I was not an experienced runner but decided to take on the challenge. My boyfriend, now husband, Gary, ran only occasionally, no more than six miles a week. Throughout the training, he was extremely supportive. He would get on his bicycle and ride along next to me as I suffered through 18-, 19- and 20-mile practice runs. The morning of the race he accompanied me to the start line, wished me luck and reassured me that my hard work was about to pay off. He would see me at mile 20. He took a cab down to the Comiskey Park area and waited at the 20-mile mark so he could complete the race with me. I’ll never forget his face as he recognized me running toward him. He outstretched his arms and as I fell into them, I knew I was going to finish. I felt like I could do anything as long as he was with me. The next six miles were very emotional as he told me repeatedly how proud he was. He fed me jelly beans and kept encouraging me. When we saw the finish line, he gave me one last kiss. What was incredibly powerful about this experience was that I had shared it all with Gary. For me, the marathon was a 20-mile race. The last six miles were easy.”
Janice: “I ordered carpeting and paint for my living room, dining room and hallway. Then I realized a business/personal trip was quickly approaching and I would be gone for almost two weeks. I also had made no provision for the removal of heavy wallpaper in that area. After he dropped me at the airport, my partner (but not roommate) of four years spent most of his time while I was gone scheduling the work, scraping off the old wallpaper and preparing walls, removing all of my furniture, pulling up and discarding my old carpeting, monitoring the rug installation and room painting and replacing all of the furniture. I did nothing other than order the carpeting and pick out the paint, and I and came home to a beautiful hall, living and dining room. Needless to say I felt extremely guilty and grateful.”
Chessie: “One of our first homes was quite old, and the only source of heat was a wall heater. It didn’t work well, and it was right next to the thermostat, so you had to turn it up very high to heat the rest of the house. The bathroom never warmed up, so getting out of the shower was a nightmare. My husband J.J. would make this easier by putting a towel in the dryer and bringing it to me just as I was getting out of the shower.”
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What part have pets played in your relationship? Send your tale, along with your relationship problems, to Cheryl Lavin, Tales from the Front, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 or e-mail CLavin@Tribune.com. All names are changed. Letters cannot be considered without name, address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be used in whole or in part for any purpose and become the property of the column. Read Tales from the Front every Sunday in Arts & Entertainment and every Tuesday and Thursday in Tempo.
