Meryl Streep is separated from her husband

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Source? Cite?

Everywhere.

Google it or go to DM.

I think it’s weird. 45 years and you call it quits? You can’t work it out or accept the relationship for what it is?

I wonder if either wants to date?

They presumably had happy years together and raised kids together. Is the marriage only a success if it lasts until one of them dies?

You can look back and think, "Just stick it out! Cross the finish line!" Or you can look ahead and think, "Do you want put up with another 20 years of these annoyances?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still a successful marriage

Right? 45 years of a private adult relationship in which you raise four beautiful kids to successful launch and you remain friends - that's a successful marriage. Marriage doesn't have to last a lifetime to be a success while it does.

[Anonymous]

She is a wonderful person (we have interacted professionally).

He may have a drinking problem. I do not know this but seem to recall rumors way back when....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe she had an affair with Oliver Putnam irl

They had CHEMISTRY! I was so surprised and delighted by it!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Source? Cite?

Everywhere.

Google it or go to DM.

I think it’s weird. 45 years and you call it quits? You can’t work it out or accept the relationship for what it is?

I wonder if either wants to date?

They presumably had happy years together and raised kids together. Is the marriage only a success if it lasts until one of them dies?

You can look back and think, "Just stick it out! Cross the finish line!" Or you can look ahead and think, "Do you want put up with another 20 years of these annoyances?"

I think that's one way to look at it. The other is - how much do you dislike this person, that at this stage of life you feel the need to divorce. What have you been putting up with all these years - or what's changed? It's not that it's sad or not, but it definitely raises questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is a wonderful person (we have interacted professionally).

He may have a drinking problem. I do not know this but seem to recall rumors way back when....

Wow

[Anonymous]

His sculptures aren’t my thing but he seems to have quite a body of work and in many public spaces. http://www.dongummer.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe she had an affair with Oliver Putnam irl

She was rumored to be quite the man eater back in the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always thought he must be a unicorn among men - for them to have a marriage that thrived for decades even in the face of her enormous success and obvious off the charts talent. He’s always mentioned as a sculptor, but I’ve never seen a piece on them that included a photo of any of his work. Maybe he happily embraced being house husband and stay at home dad to their four children.

A decade ago it would have made me feel sad to hear of their separation but I’ve seen so much in recent years working with elders, that I can understand almost anything. It’s possible to still love someone and yet be desperate not to live with them anymore - 45 years is a long time to put up with someone’s stuff. They can easily afford two homes and whatever help they’ll each need to age in place.

One thing I’ve definitely seen working with elders is that some people get quite nasty as they get old. Sometimes they’ve always been a jerk and age just strengthens their resolve to be mean, but much more often it is a symptom of the slide into depression and dementia that is far too common in the aging brain in the context of the western lifestyle.

Meryl has been a hero of mine since I was a teenager. She’s always seemed to have a charmed life, apart from the obvious heartache of having lost John at such a young age. Knowing she’s separated from her husband makes her seem just a little more real to me. Even super icons can’t be totally successful at everything.

Such a great commentary! Agree especially with the observation that some people do become depressed/despairing as they age. Also I suspect the reason why this is all coming out now is that one or both may have found new partners.

[Anonymous]

Captain and Tennille also divorced semi quietly after decades married. Initially framed as financial preservation due to his illness but later revealed he was abusive.

Lindsey Buckingham’s wife filed for divorce fairly recently but then announced they were working on their marriage. Financial implications here.

[Anonymous]

A lot of artistic people have really strong and quirky personalities. I can see a situation where that was initially fun with sparks and then aged into sort of just a difficult dynamic that at some point you tire of.
My husband has a strong personality and while it was magnetic in our 20s, it gets tiring decades in. If we had endless money and multiple houses, I would take some long breaks.

[Anonymous]

Money gives you lots of options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Money gives you lots of options.

Yup, this.

In my near decade working with elders I saw many couples aging in place who would not have been together (gleaned from their own admissions to me) if they could afford to separate and maintain their quality of life.

Which always puzzles me, because how is material stuff worth more than the peace of mind of freedom from the negativity of living with someone who makes daily life unpleasant?

I'm sure the day will come when I lament my choice to be single forever, given that I am not wealthy. But I honestly thought to myself while watching that movie Nomadland that I'd rather end up living on my measly SS and living out of my vehicle in a car camping situation where I follow the warm weather from one national park campground to another my entire retirement rather than live in emotional misery with a bad partner and in the comforts of a nice home and stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His sculptures aren’t my thing but he seems to have quite a body of work and in many public spaces. http://www.dongummer.com/

Some of them look like a stack of yard chairs. They're dreadful.

[Anonymous]

He was her rebound after Cazale died. Maybe she just needs to spend some long missed time alone.