George Johnson is 74-years-old. He recently sold the business he founded 30 years earlier. He has three children and five grandchildren. He was widowed three years ago when his wife died of cancer.
A year later, his children encouraged him to join a gym, make new friends, get out more, maybe even resume the ballroom dancing he used to enjoy with his wife. Hesitant at first because it felt disloyal to his late wife, George did join a dance group and started to participate twice a week .
He met Lori, a widow with whom he enjoyed dancing. They became steady dance partners; the relationship blossomed. One day, George announced to his children that he and Lori planned to marry.
His children immediately branded Lori as a gold digger. They set out to make sure that their inheritance would be safe from Lori when their father died. They never got the chance. George forestalled a situation that families allow to fester for years.
He refused to tolerate the children's rude treatment of Lori. He told them what was in his will, what each of them would inherit and what he would provide for Lori. He maintained, firmly but politely, that he enjoyed being with Lori, and if his children couldn't be polite about his choice, that was their problem.
Good for George!
