You get dumped (no, put your hands down, damit, I’m not finished) by a person with whom you shared so many likes, loves, and general appreciations that the very ending of the relationship makes it impossible for you to enjoy the things you once adored?
Just as one example, it’s going to be a long time before I can watch Mel Brooks’ film The Producers without bursting into tears. Or watch a Chuck Jones cartoon. Or read Harlan Ellison. Or eat pistachio ice cream. Or…
I had something like that. At one time, years and years ago, I was married to the first Mr. SW. We lived on a lovely sailboat. For years after the divorce, I couldn’t enjoy the ocean. He ruined the entire Pacific for me.
The fact that a friend recently reported finding a website showing Ex and his new wife - living in Fiji, aboard MY stinkin’ boat - was a momentary cause for bitter ranting. However, my current husband is worth more than any material goods. And I can always get another boat.
You will be able to enjoy your favorite things again. May you do so in better company.
Of course, as soon as I began the thread I realized it was a silly question. There may be no more universal experience – in romance, anyway – than the one I described. Chalk it up to another universal experience: the feeling that you are the only person that ever suffered a crisis in exactly the way you have, despite all logic to the contrary.
But, god, it helps to have other people say they’ve been there…
Uh, well, haven’t been there (sorry to parade on your rain), but it did occur to me that the flip side is also true, and there may be comfort in that.
I mean, say you can’t enjoy Wallace and Gromit any more. You might take comfort in the fact that, unless your ex is a totally heartless automaton with cold steel where a heart should be (and I’m not saying s/he isn’t, people have broken up over less), then the experience is ruined for him/her, also.
So you’ve never been there, huh? Well, I’m… I’m glad for you. No… no, really, I’m… I’m glad… :smack:
Seriously, though, I suppose what helps burn the most is that the said ex-paramour was the first person I had met in a very long time with whom I did share so very many of these favored obsessions. Gave the kick in the heart a little extra something, doncha know. And inasmuch as the parting was more in-sorrow-than-anger on both sides, I can’t take much comfort in the fact that all them fun things are ruined for her too.
