[continuing]
... After my previous wife passed on from this life into whatever greeted her in the next, I grieved heavily. Far more extensive than I had imagined I would. I thought I would rebound quickly. It took a year. I guess I should feel fortunate. Some people never go beyond their grief.
So, after I got past the worst of it, I began to confront my own needs. I began to think of what I wanted and needed. That means I had gotten past the issue of "Do I continue?" fairly quickly. That also means I had soon gotten past the issue of "Do I continue alone or do I seek out another?"
I decided I still have plenty of life in me and lots more living to do; that I could share myself with another and have the capacity to love her to the fullest. I felt I could look again for another woman of the kind I wanted. This time, I told myself, I would have an even better relationship than any I had in the past. This next one would be my last and greatest love.
I thought a lot about what the profile would be of this new person. Happy, good in heart, youthful spirit, attractive, small, Asian, interested in self-improvement in the Buddhist way, not necessarily interested in children or having more children.
Remember, your criteria will be different and the reasons why you seek your love outside your country will be different than mine. The important thing is that you take the time to search your soul and come up with the profile of the person you MOST want. Do not settle for some kind of compromise. That may happen later, as it usually does in life. But, at this point, you want to go with your ideal and seek out that ideal.
-- Malcolm & Thiphawan
