Oscar night is one of my favorite nights of the year. The red carpet, the glitz, the glamour, even the awful speeches! And this year I was more excited than normal. So excited that even Stella and Sophie dressed for the occasion.
As I poured my glass of champagne and settled in to watch the red carpet, I suddenly thought what a difference a year makes. Last year, as I poured my glass of champagne one phone call brought my world crashing down around me. A call that informed me that my marriage had indeed been a sham. And learning this, while searching for my missing ex-husband, was a lot to process and almost beyond imaginable. (He was later found unscathed.)
But here I am, a year later, happier and more peaceful than I can ever remember being. So much so that people are commenting to that effect. Last year, I spent the night in denial, in hysterics, in what-ifs... you know the drill. This year, I toasted the night, giggled at my glamour pups and indulged in shrimp cocktail and scallops wrapped in bacon. I went to bed wrapped in love, not in fear as I had last year.
A friend told me you don't realize the depths of the sadness a divorce brings until you are through it. And I now realize how true that is. It is only since I have had closure and been able to move on that I now realize survival mode kept me moving a lot of the time. And now, I am enjoying exploring who I am post-divorce. Second chances do happen. And I am so blessed and thankful to have received mine. (Now I just hope George has a second chance at an Oscar!)
