This is a true story. I've changed the names, although the characters still living are by no means innocent. Far from it. Our hero is part of the so-called "greatest generation," but unlike many in his demographic cohort, he was neither imperious, nor unjustly rewarded solely because of quirks in the economy. He was successful all right, but there would be a price to pay...

Sam was born in 1914, obtained a good college education, and got married in his 20's. He had a couple of kids and went through World War II. In the early 1950's, he and his family moved to the East Coast, where Sam got a good job with a prestigious company. They began to live the American postwar lifestyle.

Sam was extremely bright, and was a diligent worker, so promotions and peer recognition came readily. Indeed, everything seemed idyllic until 1966, when his wife died, after a painful battle with cancer.

About a year later, he became friendly with Barbara, a younger co-worker. Sam was a bit hesitant at first to pursue the relationship. After all, he was 20 years older than Barbara, and he had grown children. Still, his father lived to be 101, and with his vibrant, youthful personality, things could work out. Sam and Barbara married in 1969.

I met Sam in late 1970, while I was a student. By then, he and Barbara had their first child--a daughter. I was to see them regularly, until I moved back to California. And, in subsequent years, whenever my travels brought me to their city, I was sure to visit them.

This routine kept up pretty much unchanged through the late 1980's, until I called Sam from my office, as I often did, to discuss a technical problem. Since Sam had more general scientific knowledge than any 10 people you might name, these discussions were usually quite rewarding. This particular call, though, was to be much different.

In the months since we had last spoken, Sam had gone through a bitter and extremely costly divorce. Barbara, it turns out, had gone lesbian; this after about 19 years of marriage and two daughters. Moreover, the laws of his state, enlightened as they were for the times, put lesbians into a special protected class. Not only was it forbidden to mention Barbara's lover by name in the proceedings, no reference could even be made to the same sex extramarital affair.

But these pre-trial restrictions were only the beginning. To demonstrate just HOW enlightened his state was, here's what Sam got for his $75,000 in legal fees: The loss of his house, pension, and various investments. Add to that a sizable alimony, for the very much employed Barbara, who was cohabiting with her lady love, already bringing in a household income well in excess of $100,000, with minimal expenses. Finally, there was full child support, that included all college and grad school expenses. Naturally, both daughters attended Ivy League schools.

Products of an elite, progressive, Ivy League education, the daughters rallied to the side of their brave, feminist mother and essentially abandoned Sam, except, of course, for his money. If it were possible to add any more insult to all these injuries, Barbara was encouraged to pursue her lesbian affair by the wife of Sam's boss. The two couples had been close friends.

By the late 1990's, Sam's health started to decline. Beset with severe hearing problems, he couldn't take my phone calls. Then, he stopped responding to my e-mails. I heard through some mutual friends that he died early this year. I wouldn't bet that either his two daughters or ex-wife even attended the funeral, but I don't know for sure.

Poor Sam. His strong work ethic, honed as he came of age during the Depression, served his first family well, but, alas, served his second family so much better. What more fitting legacy could there be in our American society, gone so terribly wrong, and heading further downward at breakneck speed?

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