Unlucky in love
Since divorcing my mum, my dad – now in his fifties - hasn’t had much luck on the dating front. While this is in part down to his taste in unsuitable women – in short, anything with a pulse – he’s not been helped by a tendency to propose to anyone who can put up with him for three dates or more.

But last summer, Dad finally seemed to have struck lucky. He met a lovely lady (let’s call her Sharon) on the internet. They both liked motorbikes, shared a similar taste in appalling jokes, and generally got on like a house on fire.

Nevertheless, Dad decided to ‘take this one slow’. Sharon – just out of a rough relationship herself – agreed. However, they soon fell deeply in love. While Dad usually had little to say on the phone to me, now he was happy to talk about himself and Sharon and seemed truly content. Certain that she was the one, he bought a wedding ring and prepared to pop the question around Christmas time.

Sadly, he never got the chance. At the beginning of December, Sharon went to the doctor complaining of a pain in her stomach. Bowel cancer was diagnosed, and Sharon was operated on almost immediately. However, the disease had spread too far. Tragically, by the end of the month Sharon had passed away.

My dad takes most things in his stride, but he was genuinely heartbroken. One minute he had been thinking of marrying this woman – the next he was at her funeral.

The day after Sharon was laid to rest, I called to see how dad was getting on. He confessed that he didn’t really know where to turn now, not least as everything had happened so quickly.

“I can’t believe she’s gone,” he told me. “It was only about a month ago that we told each other that we’d like to spend the rest of our lives together.”

He paused for a second. And then, brightening somewhat, he added:

“Well, I suppose she did do that really.”

At which, I almost pissed myself.
(silencer, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 16:22, 11 replies)

Click

(TheManWithThePlan cussed your mum on, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 16:26, closed)

Oh man.
I can't think of what to say about that, other than it's beautiful in a twisted sort of way...
( Wanderer, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 16:29, closed)

made me laugh loudly too

( lord bofingham, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 16:39, closed)

click!

(Ragathi wants to know where his evil twin is on, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 16:51, closed)

"I like this" seems wrong, but it gets a click anyway
I can so identify with this, I really feel for your dad.

Far less amusingly, I was telling my friend the other day how there was never a shred of doubt in my mind that Jess & I would be together forever... and then making a similar comment to your dad.

Please wish him well from me
(Professor Kenny Martin Hmm? What?, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 18:02, closed)

thanks much for the thought
It was a pretty dark time all in all. But Dad is doing ok now - a rocky couple of months, but now he is doing a lot better. Hope things pick up for you too.
(silencer, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 14:17, closed)

I have a vaguely similar story to this.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 18:26, closed)

I say 'similar', one of the protagonists dies.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 18:26, closed)

It wasn't me.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 18:26, closed)

FFS
you finally have something interesting to say and you piss it up the wall.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Tue 27 Jul 2010, 22:34, closed)

Calm down Umbrage, I've not posted it yet.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Tue 27 Jul 2010, 22:50, closed)