There are widowers, there are widows, there are widows, there are people like in my situation

where it's horrible.

It's the worst kind of death, because it's a death, but it's not.

This is Dating While Gray, the grownups guide to love, sex, and relationships.

I'm Laura Stasi.

Today's topic, no one dares think about until it happens to them.

You might find it uncomfortable, but please stick with us.

It's important to discuss, as more and more of us may face this dilemma.

Romantic love in limbo. That's next.

When I think of losing a partner, I recall a heartbreaking modern love essay.

It was called You May Want to Marry My Hus essay. It was called, You May Want to

Marry My Husband. It was written by a children's book author in Chicago. She'd been diagnosed

with ovarian cancer. This writer's essay was in the form of a dating site profile she wrote

for her husband of 26 years. Ten days after the essay was published, she died at the age of 51.

So this, of course, is a very public example of a couple having the what-if discussion. You know,

what if something happens? I want you to find someone else. I love you so much. I want you to be

happy without me. Some couples have this talk as part of

everyday conversation. I know this because I posed the question on my personal Facebook page.

I have a lot of friends who have been married a long time. One woman's comment,

married 37 years. Yes, this has been discussed, probably more as we've

gotten older. We've mentioned that it doesn't have to mean marriage per se, but very important to

stay connected and active and to have a partner who one can truly share with, end quote.

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