Our neighbor Ron married Kathy and they had two daughters. Currently, one is away at college and the other is living near her law school.
About four years ago, Kathy left Ron and the daughters to start a new life in Los Angeles. As Ron had been the primary parent throughout the girl’s childhood, it was not much of an upheaval for them.
During this time, when we were out on the patio on the weekends, we would invite Ron over for a glass of wine and conversation. He was lonely and having a hard time adjusting to living in a big empty house. He had not wanted the divorce.
Also during these years, he traveled to China a lot. He is a dean at a large university and his textbooks are used there. Invited to teach some classes, he was able to see some of his former students and explore several regions of China. Friends had given him contact information of a woman in China who spoke English who could act as a guide. She was teaching high school English at the time.
Fast-forward about three years and after Ron’s many trips to China, Susan arrived here. She is smart, beautiful and nice.
They married.
Ron is so happy that, in fact, he is glowing. They have been married not quite a year.
Susan has learned to drive – terrifying for Ron – has her driver's license and has passed her CBEST tests to earn her teaching certificate in California.
She is strong, no push over and I really like her.
Yesterday, I sat in her kitchen and watched as she made some homemade dumplings filled with chives, eggs and a bit of minced shrimp. Okay, I tasted one. They were divine. Did I mention that she is an outrageous cook?
She prepared four more and sent them home with me for our dinner. Michael kept moaning as he ate them.
Ron also cut two fresh artichokes from his bushes to go with the dumplings. It was a feast!
Susan and I made plans to get together and chat. She really misses her adult daughter and women friends. I think I just made new a friend!
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