When I was very young, I had a favorite aunt and uncle who told great people stories when they visited. But one story troubled me — it was about a young couple, friends of theirs, who had been deeply in love but the wife had died tragically after only five years of marriage. The widower had recently re-married. How could he have done that, I blurted out? How could he re-marry after losing the love of his life?
Now I have done something that sometimes shocks our friends. I have experienced a flurry of losses in the last few years, so I started a file for my husband, a file he can read upon my death. This is not a will, it is a list of who I think he should date, after I am gone, of course! Because I am now convinced that when you deeply love someone, you don’t want them to be alone should you suddenly check out.
In fact, if you love them, you want them to enjoy every second of life they can.
And sometimes, a house can play a role in that, too.
Colleen and Dr. Richard Devita, seated, with Richard’s children, Mikey, left, Gabby, center, and Richie, in the kitchen of Villa Devita on the family’s 101-acre ranch estate near Venice, Fla. COURTESY PHOTO / HAROLD BUBIL, SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE[/caption]
Homes need tending else they, like people, fall apart and lose connection. Remember the story of Mary Ellen Bendtsen and her grand home on Swiss Avenue? I am sure her soul was not in peace until her home was. The thought that another woman may come into my home now and make sure the corners are clean, the ceilings dusted, the knicks painted, leaks repaired, no longer makes me seethe. I love my house (even when I cheat on her!) and I want her to be well-maintained and tended.
Let’s see, which should be better maintained, house or spouse?
So when I read this heart-wrenching story written by friend and excellent journalist, Harold Bubil of Sarasota, Florida, I knew I had to share it with my Dallas readers. Harold calls it a two-hanky story; get a box-of-tissues. It’s the story of how someone, in this case, a sister, stepped in to someone’s life after she lost it to tend to her children, her husband, and her home. And yes, she took her place. But it turned out to be a very beautiful thing.
