Later Darlin'

By Donna Marksman

Early in 2008, my husband died, after forty very eventful years together. Devastated by his loss, I finished writing the biography he had started, depicting those years, and titled it See You Later, Darlin, which was his catchphrase.

A tribute to him and the other West Indian immigrants who came to Britain in the 1950s, the book is full of passion and soul. It tells of the courage shown by a generation to whom so much is owed. Shocking in parts, but yet it is uplifting too.

Following the books publication, I received e-mails, letters, and comments from readers who had been in similar situations. Encouraged by their correspondence, I wrote this sequel, Later, Darlin, based on how I and others dealt with issues such as financial affairs, getting back into a social life, dating, and even whether it is cool to have a sex life over sixty. Full of humor and respect, it shows how people can heal and move forward. I hope others will be empowered by this book to do the same in similar circumstances.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477231234

Donna Marksman

Donna Marksman is the widow of Rossi and wrote the book using journals he kept during their very eventful forty years together. A sequel is almost finished, this time about the very different lifestyle of widowhood. It is written around the issues experienced during her first solo year. Based on e-mails, letters, and comments from others, it is hilarious. You won’t believe the antics some oldies get up to.

Book preview

LATER

DARLIN’

DONNA MARKSMAN

US%26UKLogoB%26Wnew.ai

AuthorHouse™

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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© 2012 by Donna Marksman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/29/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3121-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3122-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3123-4 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Synopsis

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Post Script 2011

Synopsis

Early in 2008, my husband died, after 40 very eventful years together. Devastated by his loss, I finished writing the biography he had started, depicting those years, and titled it See You Later Darlin, which was his catchphrase.

A tribute to him and the other West Indian immigrants who came to Britain in the 1950’s, it is full of passion and soul. It tells of the courage shown by a generation to whom so much is owed. Shocking in parts, but yet it is uplifting too.

Following the books publication I received emails, letters and comments from readers who had been in similar situations. Encouraged by their correspondence I wrote this sequel Later Darlin. Based on how I and others dealt with issues such as financial affairs, getting back into a social life, dating and even whether is cool to have a sex life over sixty. Full of humour and respect, it shows how people can heal and move forward. I hope others will be empowered by this book to do the same in similar circumstances.

Acknowledgements

If I thank everyone who encouraged me to write this sequel, I will sound like an Oscar winner!! In spite of that, my heartfelt gratitude has to be expressed, So, to everyone who contacted me after reading See you later darlin, thank you. To Dame Ruby Black, Phil Hughes, Kim Morris, Sam Hughes Lady H, Les Pitt, The Bodiams, and Harrisons, Gill, Lester and June and family in Bucks, my Christian Facebook friend Georgiann Rogers Fox in Rio Grande, Dennis’s family and the fabulous Mac’s in Oxford and of course, Billy Wilson… . Thank you, thank you thank you I love all of you to bits!!!

This book is dedicated to the memory of

Dennis Elcardi Spring,

Foreword

It is almost five years since the life changing events I wrote about in my first book, See You Later Darlin.

If you have read the book, no explanation is needed. In case you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, it is the biography of my late husband. He was not famous or a celebrity, but the story is fascinating.

It tells of the fifty years spanning his emigration from the Caribbean to Britain. The story starts in the 1950’s telling of the life the immigrants left behind to become one of the generation invited by the government to help with the rebuilding of Britain in the post war years.

Like many immigrants before and since, he found life over here not at all as he expected. He encountered racism in employment, housing, and love. And rose high above it all.

The story of the passion and grit needed to start a new life is a common tale, happens all over the world, and has done so since time began.

I met him in the mid sixties and our forty years together were very eventful. He had always kept a journal, writing down snippets of our life together over the years. He said one day we will put it into a book just for the family. Some of the events would have been better left in the closet, but needed telling embarrassing or not. After all, who would want to air their failings? But it was precisely those issues that set us back on track and brought our faith back to us. And us back to faith… .

After his death, I was without a real focus and even though I had no idea at all about how to write a book, I did so and published it. It tells how true love can cross the boundaries of loving someone of a different race, culture, or even of the same gender each of these situations takes courage, To stand alone or be different is not easy. Most of all it shows how faith helped us to get over some shocking issues and serious marital conflicts. The book ends with me starting to move forward into a very different life, without the soul-mate I loved and missed so much.

Later Darlin, is the sequel depicting my journey so far. It is not meant to be a blueprint for recovery, and is definitely not just about me either. Yet it may be of help if you are in a similar position. I received many emails, letters and comments, following the publishing of See You Later Darlin. It was clear that some people were uplifted and enabled by my words. For that alone I give thanks to God.

So please read on, and I will show some of the correspondence received and how, I, and others dealt with problems that were similar. It may be that you don’t need all or even any of the suggested coping strategies. But I bet you would benefit from the laughter it will generate, and humour can be a great healer. I hope you enjoy this book as much as my zest for life has made it a joy to write.

Chapter One

LETTER ONE

Dear Donna,

Your letter came out at just a right time for me. After many years of being an invalid, my dear old mum has died.

I’m glad she is out of the pain at last. She was crippled with arthritis and couldn’t even hold her book in the end. The Bible had been in the family for years, came over with her from St. Lucia. A big, heavy, King James Version. She was