Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” (Frank Lloyd Wright) Non-fiction pieces, personal essays and occasional poems that explore how we feel about how we age and offer tips for getting the most out of life.

Member-only story

Second Chances — Crow’s Feet Prompt

My Second Chance — The Starting Place for Joy

The most awful thing that ever happened to me led to the best thing that ever happened to me

Beth Nash Bruno
Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age
5 min readDec 9, 2024

--

We are both so grateful for second chances. (Photo from the archives of Beth Bruno)

There are few things as powerful as the joy of someone who got a second chance and found their purpose. Kim Reynolds

I stood in the vestibule of the church waiting for the wedding march to begin. I was so young, but at 18 I thought I was so grown-up. I was having second thoughts but it was too late for that. The guests were waiting for my grand entrance, so I did what I thought I should. I took my father’s arm and walked down the aisle to my fate.

It turned out my instincts were right. I should never have walked into that church and married the man waiting for me there. Finally, 27 years later, I found the courage to do what I should have done that day so long ago. I walked away.

I don’t need to tell you that this felt like jumping off a cliff and praying all the way down. I didn’t believe there was anyone out there who heard my prayer and I was afraid I would splat at the bottom and be obliterated. I wan’t even sure if there was any ground down there. Maybe I would never stop falling.

--

--

Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age
Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age

Published in Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” (Frank Lloyd Wright) Non-fiction pieces, personal essays and occasional poems that explore how we feel about how we age and offer tips for getting the most out of life.

Beth Nash Bruno
Beth Nash Bruno

Written by Beth Nash Bruno

Human learning to be human. Writing in hopes of getting there.

Responses (43)