Ok... had to have emergency surgery yesterday and due to the divorce did not want to list my STBXW as the emergency contact and who to call with updates when I got to recovery.

My phone was left behind in the inpatient room, and that's when I made an incredible realization. After 28 years of marriage, her number was the only number I had memorized. I didn't even know my 2 adult daughters' phone numbers memorized to list them as alternates... I have their numbers in my phone, but that was upstairs and not in Pre-op with me. I now know that I can't rely on the STBXW like I used to. I could have this time but chose not to. I realized I need to memorize my daughters' numbers. I have relied on my phone's contacts for this function for so long and that has made me vulnerable, not just this time, but I started to think what about in the future if I'm traveling and lose my phone or it's damaged. I would be stranded, potentially.

My plan is to put key phone numbers on a laminated card in my wallet, but also to work on committing my daughters' numbers to memory.

I sure hope I am in the minority of men that did not have the foresight to think about this yet as they start their new lives without a partner. If you haven't thought about it, use this post as a warning to encourage you to have a plan in place before you need it.