After a short default hearing on Monday, September 20th, a judge at the Sacramento Superior Court granted my request for a divorce. A journey that began with starts and stops nearly 12 years ago is finally coming to a close. A long journey of separation, reconciliation, separation again, and finally disillusionment is at it's end.
As of November 11, 2010, I will be, legally, a single man again.
Granted, and very very joyfully, that condition will probably not last very long, but, there you have it. It's finally done.
I have to give partial credit for the ease of this process to my soon-to-be official x-wife, who trusted me to go through the process uncontested, and not take advantage of her. I thank her for her trust, and wish her the best in her new life with her boyfriend and likely soon-to-be husband.
Some folks have greeted my news with gladness, others with concern for my well-being and my emotions.
One gentleman, after learning I will officially have been married for 12 days shy of 26 years when the divorce is final, greeted me with a smile, a handshake, and congratulations at meeting another "25 year man".
I must say, though, my biggest emotion is relief. Relief for a thing that is finally done. Not like a monkey off my back, or a weight off my shoulders, just a serious thing that needed to be taken off my to-do list, and finally has been.
Seven years of separation left plenty of time to deal with the emotions of a broken marriage. The mourning is long over, and the healing has long been in process. This is simply paperwork done, and I'm glad of it.
I am so happy and looking forward to the future. My relationship with Alene is the most solid and trusting relationship I've ever had. She's been supportive and very patient with me, and I owe her my heart and soul. I love her with my very life, and I look forward to a long future together.
In the words of Jack Nicholson in "As Good As It Gets".... she makes me want to be a better man.