Seeing Clearly

As seen in Tiny Love Stories column; New York Times, March 6, 2025

Our eyes first met behind ski goggles as we rode together in a chairlift. I was instantly smitten by this handsome, bronzed god of a ski instructor. Our mountain romance escalated to a marriage proposal — his valiant attempt to silence hidden desires. After a fairy-tale wedding, two children and two decades together, my husband said, “I can’t hide anymore,” and came out as gay. After years of devastation, we reconnected. Our eyes met once again, but for the first time, we saw each other clearly. I now accept him for his authentic self, introducing him as my lifelong friend. — Lina Lambert

***** This was a stretch, to reveal this backstory of my first marriage. While my poetry and writings have focused primarily on my second husband Jimmy, my journey to love began elsewhere. Sharing this vulnerable backstory is a step towards revealing the full spectrum of my experiences.

First honeymoon, Grand Tetons, Wyoming. July 1983