letter to the editor

On saying good-bye to a young love

Thu, 10/19/2017 - 10:00am

Dear Editor:

I suppose that many would not describe her as young, but at 34 years, she was much less than half my age. I confess to having had other loves before her, but they were of much shorter duration.

This love was unique. For so many years she and I traveled all over, and yet she retained the ability and spirit to travel even more. The time came, since I was much older, when I no longer felt I had the energy to give her the kind of attention and stimulation that she deserved. She needed a new lover, one much younger than I, and hopefully with the financial resources she had been used to, or maybe more. Isn’t it the right thing to let your love go when you can no longer satisfy her?

Still, it is not easy. I find myself constantly wondering where she is, what she is doing, whether she is being handled properly and being well cared for. It is not easy to say good-bye to a love of 34 years.

It is too early to tell if I will be able to honor her memory by taking on another boat.

Phil Brooks

Southport