70 Comments
User's avatar
Sharon Wood Wortman's avatar

You two have inspired me to finally write my what I did for love story. Thank you. At age 81, so much gratitude, so little time.

Ali's avatar

I see your inspiration!

And raise you to publishing it. 🃏

Voices like this are all too rare and can be so beneficial younger generations. The communities where Elders could whisper scandalous love advice to deeply blushing youngsters over canning or quilting or shelling peas are rare as “hen’s teeth”.

I will never forget (@20s) when an extremely conservative religious family member in her 60s made a comment about how “God had made her arm exactly long enough” in terms of being a divorced woman in that trad wife type cult. I wish I could see my face when she dropped that!!!

Liz Gumbinner's avatar

A great cartoonist and such a delightful writer on top of it all. Thanks for sharing your personal story. It made me smile first thing in the morning.

Kirsten's avatar

What a lovely read. I felt sorry when I got to the line “When he died in 2016…” Thank you.

Carolita Johnson's avatar

Alas! C'est la vie! Thank you! :)

Peter Moore's avatar

What did I do for love? What did love do for me, is the more salient question: Love made me grow up, love made me look outside myself finally, love made me a husband which is no little thing if you do it right, love made me a father x2, love made me go to counseling, love made me stay in shape, love made work hard at my career, love made me a better cook, love made me a happy oldster guy. Thank you, love.

Sari Botton's avatar

Well put, Peter! Thank you.

Peter Moore's avatar

Hmmm. There could be a cartoon series in that…

Ali's avatar
Feb 15Edited

There is so much vile crap online about how to be a terrible man that I think there would be a lot of interest in sincere content about how to be a good man.

I want to believe that a treMANdous amount of young men sincerely want to know.

And cartoons are the epitome of FRESH universal communication.

I think your statement is profound.

Today the internet was net BEAUTIFUL FOR ME. It’s all your fault.

Happy Nother Day you two! 💝

Phyllis Jovich's avatar

Brava! Couldn't wait to read each next sentence. I did something far worse for love; 33 years ago and I still can't write about it.

Sari Botton's avatar

I did some crazy shit, too!

Phyllis Jovich's avatar

Crazy shit is OK in my book. Hurting others, isn't.

Sora Friedman's avatar

This story birthed the idea of writing about what I was willing to do for love, first love, many years ago. Why did I never think about this format before, even as I have written a few essays about chapters in my life? Thank you for the inspiration . . .

Erika Andersen's avatar

Wonderful - thank you. I can feel Michael and your love for him threaded through every sentence. xoxo

Susan Bostian's avatar

I loved reading your delightful story! It gives me hope. Your words are dancing across the pages. I can feel your joy! Great writing.

Epstein Irwin's avatar

Touchingly honest and yet romantic. Love is no joke and when you find it and yield to it, loss is tragic. It takes great cartoons to keep us going. Thank you both.

Francine Lucidon's avatar

Oh my goodness! This is delightful! Like eating the best French pastry!

Susan Weis-Bohlen's avatar

A beautiful story. I’m happy for you and the time you had together. Sounds magical

Etta Madden's avatar

What an uplifting story! Thank you for sharing!

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Got to my heart. I'm so sorry he's gone. Way to soon. To state the obvious. I wanted your story to continue.

Carolita Johnson's avatar

We had 14 great years! I’m not greedy! :)

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

What a lovely attitude. My husband is 17 years older than me. We’ve been together 40+ years! I never imagined that when we got married.

Jess Mujica's avatar

This love story was so beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this journey to the heart.

My husband and I have a near miss love story. We have been married 22 years and counting. Next week we planned a getaway just to begin recording our marriage journey. A journey filled with miracles and love so deep and entwined I dont know where I stop and he begins.

Dianne Jacob's avatar

I like how honest you were about the sex, particularly. And how you described how in love you two were. What a great connection you had!

Carolita Johnson's avatar

The sex was definitely tied to my youth, and was a factor at the time, just one of life’s truths. ;)

Robin Pickering's avatar

Love this story so much!!! And that cartoon!! I used to be an apologetic elbow toucher omg.

Carolita Johnson's avatar

😂😂😂😘