Reading these posts, I often thought of a country-western song written by Dolly Parton. Both she and Emmylou Harris had popular versions, and I’ve wondered if the woman in the song was married to a man like you, Roland.
Mama never seemed to miss the finer things of life;
If she did, she never did say so to Daddy.
She never wanted to be more than a mother and a wife;
If she did, she never did say so to Daddy.
The only thing that seemed to be important in her life
Was to make our house a home and make us happy.
Mama never wanted any more than what she had;
If she did, she never did say so to Daddy.
He often left her all alone, but she didn’t mind the staying home;
If she did, she never did say so to Daddy.
And she never missed the flowers and the cards he never sent her;
If she did, she never did say so to Daddy.
Being took for granted was a thing that she accepted,
And she didn’t need those things to make her happy.
And she didn’t seem to notice that he didn’t kiss and hold her;
If she did, she never did say so to Daddy.
One morning we awoke just to find a note
That Mama carefully wrote and left to Daddy.
And as we began to read it
Our ears could not believe it—
The words she had written there to Daddy.
She said, “The kids are old enough;
They don’t need me very much,
And I’ve gone to search for love I need so badly.
I have needed you so long, but I just can’t keep holding on,”
She nevver meant to come back home.
If she did, she never did say so to Daddy.
“Good-bye” to Daddy!