Annie’s Mailbox: Cheating husband shares his advice

Dear Annie: I read the letter from “A Formerly Trusting Wife,” who has been married to “Bill” for 43 years. She failed to listen to her friends who tried to warn her that Bill was having a relationship with a co-worker.

I was once there, but not as the wife. I was the cheating husband. I was the one who fell from grace. I led a charmed life, graduated with honors, made the dean’s list, became an Air Force officer and the president of a local civic organization and the town’s Little League. I was respected at my church and often counseled young men who were about to dishonor their marriage vows. And then quite suddenly, I became a liar and a cheat.

I lost my family, the respect of my children, my honor and my dignity. My pastor asked me to resign from the church, I was shunned by church members, and worst of all, I saw my son and my daughter cry over the heartache I caused.

The woman who was my partner in this love affair has long since moved on to another man. I live a lonely life 100 miles away from my former family and seldom see my kids or grandchildren.

I wish there were a way to restart my life. My message to Bill is to stay with your family, learn to love your wife again, make it her birthday each and every day, and your reward will be evident in the coming years. – Frank

Dear Frank: Thank you for sharing your sad story. Hopefully, it will help someone else before he or she makes the same mistake.