Dothan, Alabama

Route 4, Box 457

July 4, 1965

Dear Ann Landers:

I am a "four-time" loser at the alter of matrimony.  Four times I was engaged to be married, and four times the gal called it off.  Each gal gave the same excuse..."I love you too much to mess up your life."  These four rejections were spaced over a period of 10 years.  Each engagement lasted on the average of two years.

I am not Robert Taylor.  But my looks and habits are passable.  I have never had a girl to voice any serious complaint.  Perhaps they did their real voicing to others?  I try to treat a girl like she wants to be treated.   Usually a fellow can tell about this.

The four girls are all married now, and we are good friends.  There were not any hard feelings at all.  I certainly do not harbor any resentment today, and hope I never shall.

The four girls were not teenagers, they were mature adults.  Each one called off the marriage in the very same way.  Exactly one month before the wedding, each girl invited me to dinner, there were candles, flowers, music, and fine champagne.  At dinner's end, I was told, and my ring returned...in what were four perfect settings.

Each of the girls had been married before...each had a kid or kids.  I especially love kids, but did not make an issue of it.

By mutual consent, we do not discuss any of this, not to each other.  I am always glad to see that these four girls are very happy, they have fine husbands, and each one has established a fine home.  But, Ann, I am not happy, something is lacking in my life.  I am not on the rebound, all this was 2-3 years ago, the final engagement, I mean.

Perhaps I should quit?  But I am a stubborn Scot-Englishman, and after 41 years, I have learned to accept certain things, but I have never learned to quit.  A friend told me it was all a big conspiracy, which I simply cannot believe.  I am too realistic to buy that yarn.

But, I cannot help but wonder, if there is a gal in this old world that would go all the way to the altar with me?

I fully realize that what has happened four times, can easily happen five or more times.  So be it.  Perhaps one of your many millions of fine readers is looking for me?  I know you do not run a date bureau, nor a club for lonely hearts, but asking cannot hurt?

Ann, you cannot possible know the help and comfort your columns bring to people like myself.  Many times I have found things in your column that seemed to apply to me, specifically.  I hope you are never alone, or lonely, Ann.

Hopefully,

Livingston

I am a white protestant.  

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