Great piece, Ruby. Your response was generous and gracious. I agree with you and the other comments. Life on this earth is for the living, and many people need the companionship of a new spouse even though they loved the one who died. Men especially seem unhappy when they're alone. My FIL absolutely adored and worship his wife and was devastated when she died. But even he eventually found a woman friend when he was in his eighties. My mother and aunts, on the other hand, remained happily single when they were widowed, despite interest and proposals.