PROLOGUE<br >Some remarkable karma has led me to draw a very happy<br >marriage. In my heart of hearts I ve always believed that<br >this has happened not because I had smarts， but because I<br >lucked out and found a sweet man who instinctively knew<br >how to gentle me and the children when， left to our own<br >devices， we d rip out each other s throats. He s darling and<br >funny and wise， and he says， "You re more beautiful than<br >ever before， and you do not have neck sag" ten times a<br >day. Sure， he can be astonishingly， Mr. Magoo-ishly<br >forgetful and dazzlingly sloppy， but when a man values<br > you， who cares if you trip over his shoes?<br > Together we are Elizabeth Barrett and Robert<br >Browning， Mike Nichols and Elaine May， the Wright<br >Brothers， Damon and Pythias， best friends， indestructible.<br >We can t stop touching each other. It s been over thirty<br >years. Our kids， all grown now， certainly like him best.<br >Who could blame them? He never gives anyone grief. I<br >like him best， too. So， until recently， I really thought he<br >was the formula for our perfect marriage. I mean， I m not<br >exactly chopped liver， but he s a very nice person.<br > But， you know what? It takes two. I ve come to<br >understand that I also have something to do with the<br >:L?:<br >