The P ublisher Po stulates
CUPID FOUND ME
be married, but somehow not enough to do
so. However, with her, it was different. Due
to my past experiences, I was filled with
self-doubt and proceeded very cautiously.
I did not want to take a chance on driving
her away. I remembered my father’s advice
to me about marriage – that daughters
become their mothers. To me, Margaret’s
mother was perfect in every way.
Eventually, Margaret agreed to marry me
under a few conditions that were easy for
me, such as she would keep her own name
and not take on mine. I knew the beginning
years would be difficult for her, as I was
spoiled, headstrong and otherwise not the
best husband material. It was the meeting
of an immovable object and an irresistible
force. Somehow she managed to calm me
34 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
during my fits for control,
and slowly we settled into
a happy state of matrimony,
where compromise was the
rule. I would admit I was
wrong, and she would agree
with me.
It is now almost 40 years
later, and I am still amazed
that I love her more and
more each day. We have
become one, and life apart
is unimaginable. The secret
to this happy outcome is that
whenever someone has to
become the better person,
Margaret does so. However,
she never makes me feel bad
about it, and most times I
probably never notice. She
often says I don’t listen, or
something like that. Our
marriage has become the most important
relationship in my long, very fortunate
life. There is nothing else that gives me
the joy or comfort that I get from having
Margaret as my life partner, along with
sharing all my moments and thoughts with
her. They say a man is not complete until
he is married. Well, Margaret definitely
finished me. 9
It took me a long time to
find my wife, Margaret.
I’d had a clue about
marriage based on
that of my parents. Theirs
was made in heaven, from
which thunder, lightning
and hurricanes also hail. My
father ruled the house with
an iron hand, and my mother
let him believe he truly did.
She would make the family’s
“smaller” decisions, such as
where we would live or go
on vacation, while he was
given the “larger” decisions,
such as whether the United
Nations should admit
Communist-controlled
China.
While in college, I didn’t
contemplate marriage, and
while I enjoyed the company of women,
none fully captured my heart. Once I began
my professional life, I dated a bevy of
women. As all my friends married, I began
to become aware that I had never fallen in
love. At age 35, it finally happened, and I
got married. However, within a year, she
discovered I was not mature enough to be
married, a fact confirmed by our marriage
counselor. It hurt my ego, but I bravely
carried on for the next 12 years, actively
being involved with wonderful, talented,
accomplished women, who all taught me
something about life and myself.
When I moved to Clearwater at age
46, Cupid’s Arrow struck. From the first
moment I saw Margaret, I hoped she would
be the final answer to my quest. I wanted to
Publisher / Editor
By Aaron R. Fodiman
TERESA HIBBARD
When my wife Margaret laughs at my jokes, you know we
have guests visiting.