Having been born in 1968, Bill is now 41 (in 2009); and, when he married Virginia, she was a bit older than he, how much I will not say, primarily because I do not know!

When Virginia did marry Bill, he was innocently without prior experience in marriage; but she had suffered at least two major disappointments that I know of, her abandonment by the father of her daughter and another man who was into drugs and was unfaithful to her.

So, whereas Bill had the image of his quiet and caring mother shaping his expectancies, Virginia had developed, by then, a very negative regard for men in general yet was driven, as some women are, to endure being married to one, for whatever advantage men are supposed to be for them.

So, needless to say, Bill's marriage to Virginia was guaranteed to have some rocky times; and fourteen years proved that to be so, along with some very nice times, as well; for, as well as being a home decorator, Virginia also was a work oriented woman, eventually becoming the secretary to the vice principal of the high school where she worked, which required a lot of responsibility! And she did well with it, which augmented their finances and made some nice things possible!

Both Bill and Virginia were great entertainers, Bill's being an excellent chef; so the family became used to their Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations; and, when Bill and Virginia had finally worn themselves out with their internal strife, the family sorely missed that wonderful hospitality and the love that their Christmas gifts always expressed for various members of the family at large!

As a divorced woman, Virginia has made a life for herself among a number of fun-loving girlfriends, a sister nearby, one in New Mexico and her daughter, Evie! They make trips to Las Vegas and other resorts and have the time of their lives together; but I cannot help but feel that there is an empty place in her heart for Bill, who was the one who finally could not suffer her accusations against him any longer.

When human relationships are destroyed, for whatever reason, everyone loses; and there is a place in the heart of every member of this family for the woman who was such an accommodating wife to Bill for the many years they were together!

Amen! Alleluia!