Lillian Golden
There have been many days that I wake up and honestly can’t believe I’ve
made it to the age of 98! I’m thankful every day that my mind is clear, I’m still independent and that
until two years ago, I’d never been in a hospital overnight other than to have my children.
Growing up as the middle child of six in the 20’s and 30’s, our life was modest. I was close to all my four
sisters and one brother. Kids back then, readily adopted the playground as our home away from home, where I
not only played sports, but developed a life-long passion for knitting and crocheting, which I continued until
recently when my hands just stopped working well anymore.
During my first marriage, I knew that
something was missing from my life. I wasn’t happy, and our first child, a boy, died three hours after birth. This
was a very difficult time for both myself and my first husband.
Several years later I met a man who
was also in an unhappy marriage. We fell in love and I got pregnant with his child during this time. It wasn’t a
time when women could freely announce that they were up and leaving, so I stayed with him until my
daughter was one-and-a-half-years old. It was very challenging to live like this, knowing I was planning to
leave.
The time finally came, when I couldn’t remain in this painful situation any longer. Of course he
thought this child was his and I felt it best to let him believe she was. I realize now, that there were other
choices and can only imagine what might have happened if things had played out differently.
For
me, leaving everything and choosing to begin over, was a profound act of being true to myself.
Although I lost many friends and was harshly criticized by people around me, I just could not bear to
stay in this loveless marriage any longer.
Moving in and living with my sister and her family
for one year was tough, but in the end very necessary and worth it. I did marry my daughter’s father when she
was two-and-a- half, and went on to have a son with him. We got to enjoy 17 wonderful years together.
Funny thing, although we were born the same day, same year, he died suddenly of a heart
attack at the age of 51, yet I went on to live a full life on my own, never remarrying. His death is one of great
loss in my life, as he was truly the love of my life. But, in life, we must go on.
My outlook is positive
and my daughter reminds me that my “motto” is “talk yourself out of it.” I’ve never let things get to me
and I’m grateful that I’m still healthy, able to get around and live on my own. No regrets and I’ve never
understood the value of holding grudges. All my siblings are gone now and I remain thankful to be the
last one standing, still enjoying life every day.
Written by Beverley Golden on
behalf of Lillian