September 5th, 2008

Lord Byron once wrote about marriage, “Wishing each other, not divorced, but dead; They lived respectably as man and wife.” I can’t help but think about Bill Cody when I read that. I’ve been working on a book about his life and loves and the difficulties he had with this marriage. He wasn’t faithful, but his wife did try to poison him. An act like that is bound to push you into the arms of someone else. According to the transcripts from the Cody’s divorce proceedings William told the court, “We have had trouble off and on during all our married life, first, beginning about two months after we were married.” Two months?! Louisa fought divorce and they were miserable. She liked the money he made however. I guess it bought her the type of misery she could live with. I know women like that. Most of the women in my family married for money, but not a lot of money. You can’t go to a reading of a will in my family without someone asking, “Who’s getting’ the tools? I’m back on the road Monday doing various book signings in the Sacramento area. Don’t think I’ll go in costume this week. The petticoats are too hot to wear. The plains had to be littered with petticoats from women making their way west. I base all my fashion decisions on what clothing is least itchy. Pioneer women didn’t have that luxury. Back to Bill and one story that can’t possible end with “and they lived happily ever after.”