This was taken in the early 1950's, before my time, cousin Nellie and her first husband - I think his name was Al. All I know is the marriage was short, the divorce ugly, in an era when you had to prove adultery, cruelty, or abandonment to the Court. There were mentions of poverty, abuse and unhappiness. After the divorce she moved to Miami with an Uncle, Uncle Bob, who sold his bar in New York when he sobered up, and moved south to start over. Nellie married a prince of man, Winifred, who had move to Miami from New Jersey. He was a heavy equipment mechanic, and master of all trades. Nellie never had kids, Win had one son, a drummer in nightclubs in Miami Beach, and a granddaughter. The son was a bit of a sponge, always trying to get more money out of his father, they adored the grand daughter and did the best they could to give her a good start in life.
When they retired, they took a long delayed cruise, Winn had a heart attack in the middle of the Panama Canal, survived and lived another 10-15 years. They sold out in Miami and moved to Sebring Florida. Nellie had lived with my father's family during World War II (their house was a virtual refugee center for a few years.)
I never knew the first spouse, but love was good to Nellie the second time around.
I'm glad her story had a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteShe was a sweet person
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDqlHcjbLaI
ReplyDeleteold blue eyes sings it well. you and I both found better partners "the second time around".
Yes, we did
DeleteI never learnt what real love was until my father met the woman who became his second wife. Thanks for the interesting family history.
ReplyDeleteLove is amazing when it works
DeleteI thought this was going to be about YOUR first spouse, so the pic took me by surprise. Nice to read a love story with a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteI try not to write about some mistakes in my life.
Deletenot a mistake if you learned something from it. you learned to be true to your REAL self. glad you did.
DeleteI wish my ex happiness and love in life, I don't write or say some of the things that I think. We are connected on Facebook. Oh the ugly things I could say, but my grandmother taught me if I didn't have anything nice to say, to not say anything.
DeleteI, too, thought this was about you, but still it tutned out to be a sweet happy story. Glad that Nellie found her happiness.
ReplyDeleteMy ex ended up as my brother's next door neighbor for several years.
DeleteI'm glad she found the right partner in the end.
ReplyDeleteThey had a lot of fun
DeleteMy bestie refers himself as 'the fourth Mrs. Brugman'; I sometimes refer myself as 'the second Mrs. Someone".
ReplyDeleteThe second? There has to be a story there. I spent the last couple of years during my first saying, BONT, short for bright one next time.
Delete