Week 7/ Question 1 & 3

1. I enjoyed reading this story, it kept my attention the entire time. All of the characters contradict one another at some point during the story. Terri’s previous relationship with an abusive husband is the topics of conversation around the table. Terri’s empathy for a man that once loved her seems to have no sign of normalcy to the others during conversation. The behavior described by Terri’s abusive ex-husband is odd, and does raise a concern when anyone is faced with that same situation. It’s hard for me to judge whether the obsession was completely Terri’s ex-husband, because in my mind she presented herself as obsessed as well. In a way Mel had a great deal of resentment about the situation, and in the story he appeared to change his attitude toward Terri. In any relationship I think it’s hard to start a healthy relationship with a problem like Mel and Terri had with her ex-husband. To me, that is a form of love but not healthy love. It completely depends on how severe a situation might be, so one may debate whether to “work it out” or leave the situation. She is hanging on to a feeling toward her ex-husband the entire time, and I think if Terri was given the chance, she would have stayed.
3.The story brought clarification to true love, so it was nor positive or negative toward the thought of true love. The older couple seemed to have a lot of insight on the dynamics of a long lasting relationship. The younger couple seemed as though they were learning everything, they could, about the obstacles they might be faced with one day. Ed, I do not doubt that he truly loved Terri, but he did not know how to express it in a healthy way.