My early childhood was plagued by an abusive alcoholic father. Being the "Protector" was a major burden which resulted in anxiety disorder. However, my life made a major change for the better when I met the love of my life (at the time). I was a high school Sophomore and she was a Junior. We were joined together as a result of our involvement with the student govenment. Campaigning together and becoming close friends helped me refocus my energies to a more positive direction. We both won our elective posts and worked hard and long. For me, it was love at first site. The relationship extended to the point when she (D) fell in love with me. D graduated and I followed six months later (I took the advanced early graduation program). We spent every waking hour together and she helped me cope with my family problems. We went to the same college and became engaged in my Junior year--I was 18 and she was 20. I finished college in three years, we graduated together and married in October, 1966. Finally out of the house, I became obsessed with my career which took off like a rocket. We had our first and only child in 1969 and life was perfect. I had curbed my father with a warning that if he touched my mother in my absence, he wouldn't have arms again to throw a blow. Now I'm at the point of total happiness with my "first love", a beautiful daughter, and a booming career path. Unfortunately, when my daughter was 18-months-old, my wife had an "identity crisis" and left us a month before we were moving to our first house. Challenged again, I had enough survival skills to be a single father and still keep my career on path. Since my wife never disclosed her location and never made contact, I was lost. My wife returned unnanounced 8 months later--I swallowed my pride, anger and broken heart and we went on as if nothing had ever happened--my daughter did not initially know who this person who had arrived at the doorstep, but thankfully, seemed unaffected soon after D's return. I believe I tried to mend the tragedy, but D was not able to cope with the responsibility of being a wife and mother at the same time. She asked me to leave this time and I complied reluctantly. I moved to Manhattan and we divorced in 1973. Thus, the end of this phase of my life. Now onto Stage 2 on the "other side" of my lifepath.