Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulS
You hit the nail on the head.
Years ago, I didn't know him very well - only from church. They had just moved into town. He had had a brain tumor and she was in the hospital with premmie twins. One snowy night, after visiting her, he was coming home and he had a small car accident and hit his head. He had no family in the area, and shouldn't have been driving so he called me to take him in to go see his Dr. in the middle of the night. After we get home, one of the premmies past away, so we go back to a different hospital and I'm in the room for a few hours w/the wife (on meds.), him and the deceased premmie waiting for the family and our priest to get there. A few days later, the other premmie past away also. So b/c I was there and stayed, etc. the whole family (parents, sisters, etc) really loves me (at a bday party I can ask for a beer and people want to drive to a store to get one for me  ) and I don't want to get someone pissed at me. |
PaulS, do you have children?
Your friend didn't lose two "preemies", he lost two children and a huge chunk of his heart. That might understandably change how he values his surviving children. It is likely that he sees his family as an extension of himself, a part of him. He wouldn't likely go to dinner without his nose or his left leg, why would he go without his son and daughter? I'm not saying it is right, indeed probably not, but it is for him.
Your wife seems to understand and accept this. Sounds like you married a classy woman. Trust her instincts. I guarantee you that for every person in the restaurant that is bothered, there are 10 who are smiling inside and enjoying the scene.