DEAR ABBY: Three years ago, my husband died of cancer. He was only 39 years old. We had a wonderful marriage, but so many times the comment was made by individuals who had gone through a divorce, "It has to be much easier losing your husband through death than losing a mate by divorce."
How cruel and wrong could anyone possibly be! This comment was made several times shortly after my husband had died, and I still hear it today.
What do you make of it, Abby? You may use my name. -- MYRA WATKINS, GOODLAND, KAN.
DEAR MYRA: Those who would make such an insensitive comment probably intended to comfort you. (Like those who would say to a woman who had recently experienced a miscarriage, "Don't be sad -- you're better off; maybe something would have been wrong with the baby had you carried it to term.")
However, losing a cherished mate through divorce is oftentimes similar to a death -- the death of a dream that was too short-lived, or didn't work out.