December 7, 1986, dressed in an ivory colored Victorian gown, I was driven to our wedding in a horse drawn carriage. I remember sensation well. As I heard clip-pity clop of hoofs hitting pavement I felt it was happiest day of my life. The ride was several miles long and I enjoyed cars honking loudly at every turn. When we arrived at elegant Alamo Square Inn Bryan was waiting to escort me inside to nuptials. It was a good thing he took my hand, for as I exited carriage, my knees collapsed from shaking so hard. The day was spectacular marking a lifetime of love.

Both Bryan and I had always wanted kids. By time we met my biological clock had run out. He told me he would rather marry a woman he loved deeply than to wait for someone to bear his children. For several years we were content to be a unit of two. After my dear Aunt Letha died in 1992 I longed for a child. I knew we would be good parents. Bryan agreed to adoption. It was an arduous experience requiring patience and resilience. We had several birthmothers who changed their minds for different reasons. This process took three years and a great deal of money. Ultimately we were blessed with a baby girl we named Mariah. Our daughter is now 8 years old and light of our life.

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Bryan continues to be my rock, strength and loving support. During our years together I have had many tragedies including: my brother John’s suicide in 1988, my ex- husband Joey’s death from alcoholism in 1989, and my girlfriend Debra’s suicide in 2002. I was hospitalized with a potentially life threatening blood clot in my lungs in 1998. Bryan stood by me through all of these. I married a great guy! I am a fortunate woman to have found true love in heart of a younger man.

Age is but a notch on tree of life. Does it really matter that I have more than he. We are all on a spiritual path. We choose lovers, friends and family to mirror our soul’s development. Partners of different ages can accelerate this growth. These diverse emotional experiences are opportunities of a lifetime. Let’s enjoy them.

For more information on Kay Kopit visit www.isurviveddocumentary.com

Athena's sacred temple on acropolis in Athens, Greece is called Parthenon (temple of virgin) because she was one of three virgin Olympian goddesses. The Parthenon is considered by some to be most perfect building ever built.

Light is shed on attitude Greeks had toward war and battle by characterization of god of war, Ares, and goddess of battle, Athena. The Greeks hated god of war and depicted him as a bully and a coward, while showing Athena as glorious and virtuous. Unlike Romans, who glorified Mars (the Roman name for Ares) because they intended to conquer world, Greeks had no desire to control world; but neither would they lose their freedom. Thus they despised god of war and loved goddess of battle. This is a fitting Goddess for me to pray to tonight as courts try to control spam and about put all ezine publishers out of business. There is a war between people who want to market to everyone and those who want privacry. Well, personally I think that I will continue to publish my ezines and just cut out ads for now. All ads will just go online.

I pray to Athena to help me by advising me on this war.