What are the boundaries of an open marriage? What happens to them when your wife’s boyfriend has an accident that puts him in a coma? And what do you tell the kids? Today, we’re revisiting Wayne Scott’s story about his open marriage — and a motorcycle accident that tested its boundaries. Then, we hear from Wayne and his wife, Elizabeth Thielman, about the dynamics of their “creative arrangement” and how their relationship has evolved in the years since.
[MUSIC]
Anna Martin: From The New York Times,
I'm Anna Martin.
Dan Jones: And I'm Dan Jones.
Anna Martin: And this is Modern Love.
So Dan, you're the founding editor of Modern Love.
You've worked on countless love stories,
and today we're listening to one of your favorites,
which we published in 2021,
and it's about an open marriage.
What about this essay stands out to you?
Dan Jones: Well, this essay begins with a real crisis
that puts this unconventional relationship
and marriage to a stress test.
And I love how this couple responds
through open–mindedness by going off script,
by leading with kindness and love.
And it made me feel like I wanted to live my life
more truthfully and without guardrails in a way.
Anna Martin: The essay is called