The rumors and stories, Joan said, “hurt my feelings. Of course they hurt my feelings. They went to the core of my self-esteem. When one grows up, feeling that one is sort of special and hoping that one’s husband thinks so, and then suddenly thinking maybe he doesn’t… Well, I didn’t lose my self-esteem altogether, but it was difficult to hear all the rumors. And I began thinking, ‘Well, maybe I’m just not attractive enough or attractive anymore.’… And so rather than get mad, or ask questions concerning the rumors about Ted and his girlfriends, or really stand up for myself at all, it was
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