What is your greatest joy? Your greatest sorrow?

I know it sounds cliché, but my greatest joy is my husband. We have been married 40 years—almost 41. We tend to think alike; we finish each other’s questions; when we are not with each other, we are lonesome. It is not always perfect, but it is better than I ever thought I would have, and I am thankful for him every single day of my life. Because of him, I have three great kids and several grandchildren that we both adore. I cannot image my life without him.

My greatest sorrow has been losing my dad. He died when I was only 21 and a day does not go by even yet that I do not think of him. My parents divorced when I was 10, and that is when my sorrow began. I tried to stay close, but the situation did not warrant that. When I was 14, he left and I never heard from him again. Then I received the call that he died in 1970. Going to his funeral was the hardest thing I think I have ever done. I cried constantly. The funeral was held at a mortuary. It was cold and uncomfortable. The singer was horrendous and sang a song that Dad would have died if he heard it. In fact he would not have been pleased with the whole ceremony. Afterwards we went to one of my uncles homes. I could not stop crying. I had to excuse myself and go into a bedroom due to my tears. I never want to experience that severe of sorrow ever again.

Someday I will try to analyze what the sorrow was all about—or at least that extreme depth of sorrow. For now it pains me to even think about it.