So...Martha Stewart? Really?

If you haven't seen the Martha Stewart documentary on Netflix, allow me to spoil it a bit. She admitted to cheating on her husband at least twice, one time while on their honeymoon. He also had affairs, which reportedly included bringing the women into their home.
I was struck by just how brazenly unrepentant she was. And to dredge all that ugliness up again decades after the divorce seemed especially petty since they've both moved on (I suspect...but perhaps I'm projecting).
It had two effects on me:
1. Actually almost wishing that my experience with infidelity involved someone so initially callous and indifferent. It would have been a no-fail excuse in ending that relationship instead of what happened. My XWF actually seemed initially regretful about what she'd done when it first happened. I did agree to try again, but went behind her back and had a very brief RA just to feel that we were even. Stupid doesn't even cover it. She then nuked me. In hindsight, a lot of her rancor was obviously revenge-for-my-revenge. BTW, RAs are a really bad idea. I genuinely wish she'd just been awful right away and I could have moved on with some dignity instead of having so many of my personal relationships ruined.
2. I now really dislike anything in our home that is linked in any way to Martha Stewart. Luckily there's not much, but there are a few things. Before, I was ambivalent to them, now they're almost triggering.
Prior to seeing this, MS occupied less than a fraction of a percent of my consciousness over the past 20 years. I really am surprised that something so outside of my conscious thoughts could affect me so personally.

15 comments posted: Thursday, November 14th, 2024