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Show THE MALEVOLENT SEVEN- 4 When I kept an appointment with the lawyer the following week, I went in with a list of assets in hand. That first meeting gave me a clear idea of what I could expect in a fair property settlement and a general knowledge of the legal process of divorce. The third demon was encountered: Law. I had to cope with mounting anger and frustration at having to ask the government's permission to stop living with a man and then pay for the privilege in court costs and lawyer's fees. In our county it is also the custom to publish divorces in the newspaper. Property settlements and court testimony are a matter of public record. Anyone can go down to the courthouse and'read these documents. Employees who work for you have access to some very personal information. Theives can compile a list of easily fenced goods in houses occupied by women living alone merely by going through the divorce records at the courthouse. Loneliness and Law were working together as a strong team on that one. In many ways Society didn't help either. I was determined that divorce was not going to change my lifestyle. The lakes and mountains have been my sanctuary since I was a small child. But I have never been in the wilderness without father, brothers, or husband. What was I afraid of? My daughter and I spent a week at a time camping in a tent or out on our small boat. At the launching ramp we often took a lot of razzing: "I wouldn't let my wife out with my boat!"... "Hey, lady, where's your old man? You can't do that alone!..." I could and I did. At first I was terrified, but put up a good front. Each time out, the boat was easier to launch and handle; the tent went up faster; the lake got smaller and the mountains were home. The trout were biting and it was spring in the wilderness. I cried and cried and started to heal. |