My husband sent me a message from a beach resort: “I left with your best friend. We’re not coming back.” I replied with only two words

By the age of fifty, I had learned something important about myself.

Whenever the emotion vanished and absolute clarity took its place, the decisions I made were permanent.

I had made three of them in my life.

Leaving nursing school at twenty to take care of my mother.

Going back at twenty-nine.