Yes, I had a successful marriage to Dorothy for 70 years. Never any fighting, squabbling, or disruptions. Life around us sometimes a bit chaotic, which we always dealt with together, without any personal turmoil between us. Since she passed on, I have had the occasion in isolation to come up with the answer regarding our special relationship. We were Diametric opposites.

 

As an engineer I was and still am a totally logic thinker.

Dorothy was totally opposite. "Don't think about it just do it."

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If I had a particular problem with my life outside of marriage, she would fix it without a word, and here is one classic example.

 

My work in charge of a small unit at the Radio Corporation factory in Melbourne had become a day to day nightmare. Solving the problems associated with electronics which I enjoyed doing, had been completely taken over by the never-ending demands from the staff, and mentally things were reaching tipping point

 

 One morning I stepped on to the production floor and the usual six or eight staff were waiting for me, following me to the sides and rear, trying to get my attention. “We’ve got a problem with so and so, Will.” “Mr. Bonner, what do I do about this?” flourishing pieces of paper in front of my face. The questions were endless and continuous, all the way to my office.

 

As I placed my briefcase on the desk, I didn’t release it, the gabble of voices around me seemed to fade in intensity. Something inside was telling me I'd had enough. Picking up my briefcase I turned and walked out again.

 

“Where are you going Mr. Bonner? Are you alright Will?” I just kept going, my entourage following me like a group of beggar boys in Bombay, until I cleared the building into the street. The group stood there, seemingly helpless, their mouths wide open.

 

I caught the next train and finally the local bus back to Vermont and sat on the back veranda. The sun was warm and it was so peaceful. Within the hour a car pulled into the driveway and they tried to persuade me to go back, but there was nothing on God’s earth that would move me back to the brink of insanity, and eventually they left me alone.

 

Dorothy was not home and I sat there in silence with the full realization of what I had done. The baby was due soon, and she would be leaving work. Now I was out of a job and it was my own fault. It was the moment for self chastisement and I didn’t spare the whip.

 

My life was a mess. The only stable element was Dorothy, and the expected arrival, and I was perilously close to destabilizing even that. There was no income coming in, and what little they had accumulated in the bank, would soon be gone.

 

When Dorothy arrived home, we talked. There were no repercussions, just the realization that I needed some time to recover mentally.

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As each week passed, I was slowly coming to the realization that I was sitting waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. There was plenty of work out there but I was scared to make a move in case I got thrust into turmoil once again.

Dorothy would occasionally ask how I was doing, but no pressure.

 

Every morning she would take the dog for a walk. On this particular day she mentioned a small company locally. The name was Watson Victor and they manufactured Electro-Medical equipment. What happened next characterized Dorothy.

 

 "Don't think about it just do it". 

 

She went inside and talked with the manager.

 "My husband is a fully qualified electronics engineer. We live locally, do you have any vacancies."

" Tell him to see me tomorrow"

 

The factory only employed 50 people, and I started on the day of my interview, settling into a quiet atmosphere that was tailored to rectify my mental condition. The pace was easy, nobody rushed,  

 

Within the month I was beginning to feel my old self again and a move into the test room with more money even made things better. Added to that was the reassurance that I was close to home with Dorothy getting nearer to her time.

 

I stayed with the company for 3 years