Is this Live or Memorex

Thank you for tuning in!

Welcome to the first installment in the relationship series: Is this live or Memorex?

These are not true character names but are true life events.

Stacey and Carl

Stacey is a very independent woman. She has her own car, her own money, her own home, and the love of her life for the past five years, Carl.

Carl is a working man, drives a sports car, has a couple of children from previous relationships, and lives at home with his momma. But in his own words, “he loves him some Stacey”.

Stacey and Carl’s relationship is great and after five years Carl is contemplating marriage.

This is a big step for Stacey because once she says “I Do” she will instantly become a step mother. In the back of her mind she is wondering if she is truly up for the challenge; will she be able to cope with the Baby Momma Drama. Things have been cool between her and the children’s mom but she is almost positive that will change once they finally decide to marry.

Carl goes ring shopping with his friend and then waited for the right moment to pop the question. Stacey said yes and then the plans were underway.

Two years later, Stacey and Carl are now married and living happily ever after. At least so she thinks!

Now two years into the marriage, Stacey has cooked, cleaned, and done everything in between. The children have come to stay weekends and she has cared for them as if they were her own. Two years and six months later and Carl has really changed.

He is now working late all the time and wants to hang with his friends from around the way.

Stacey is frustrated because the time that they normally spend together was being spent somewhere else. Carl did not make her feel as though she were number one. He had the sudden need to be alone. This made Stacey feel as though he was cheating on her but she could not confirm her thoughts. She tried to talk to him; he would not communicate. She tried to seduce him; she was given the cold shoulder. She even let him see how hurt she was by crying and he had no sympathy.

One week Carl was scheduled to work out of town. Before he left, he told Stacey that his phone was not working properly because he had waste water on it that morning. When he had a moment, he would call her from a payphone. When Carl finally called, Stacey talked to him as long as she could. At the end of the call, she told him that she loved him and would see him soon.

That night, Stacey tossed and turned all night. She even had a dream that her husband was with another woman.

A few days later, Stacey was going about her day when the phone rang. She looked at the phone display and it said Carl. Her heart raced with excitement because she had not spoken with Carl for the last two days. As Stacey said hello into the receiver, she could hear background noise. Next she heard her husband’s voice.

He was talking, but not to her. On the other end of the line the man that she dated, married, and loved unconditionally for the last nine plus years was laughing and joking with ANOTHER WOMAN!! Not only that. It appears that there was also a small child with them. Stacey looked at the phone for a few moments as her heart pounded and tears rolled down her cheeks.

She could not believe that this was live, this had to be Memorex. In her head she is replaying the thought that Carl lost his phone, someone found it and is playing a trick on her.

Thirty minutes later, she could still hear Carl talking, then it hit her; this is definitely live. Her thoughts were confirmed but she did not want to believe it.

Right now Stacey is torn, not sure what to do, and is looking for advice.

Should she: (1) Confront him when he gets home? (2) Go tell his momma (3) Go tell her close girlfriends (4) Say nothing and hope for the best or (5) Pack up his stuff, leave it on the curb, and head to divorce court.


Word to the wise: There is always thunder before the storm. This gives you time to seek shelter. Think about it!


Next weeks installment: Oh no the hell he didn’t!


Mary Jane

Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women