After a two-year separation, Gov. Bill Owens and his wife Frances have decided to give marriage another try. He’ll be moving his things back home. In an interview with the Rocky Mountain News, the first lady is fairly open about it. She says it was not only the Governor’s idea, but the first time he ever asked.

“I don’t know if it will work out,” she said. “I’m willing to try. This is the first time he’s made any attempt.”

She says he’s not the talkative type.

What caused the split? Neither one is saying. Frances just says, “It’s rather complicated.”

So, did 5280’s naming Frances Owens the most powerful person in Colorado last week bring the Governor to his senses? It’s been the talk of the town this week, and even the Rocky doesn’t discount the possibility:

The magazine 5280 in this month’s edition picked the first lady as the most powerful woman in Denver, indicating that the marital situation kept Owens from running for the U.S. Senate, “upending the political power structure throughout the state.”

….As for the governor, he came in 12th on the list. “That was a hoot,” Frances Owens said.

As to what really prompted the Governor to make the move now, we’ll never know that either. Maybe he was taken with the runaway bride story this week. Maybe he identified with the groom when he said he still wanted to marry her. There may be problems and issues, he said, but he loves her and it’s the right thing to do. It was a touching story — one that said, if these two can patch up their problems, anyone can. It will probably become even more poignant when Julia Roberts plays Jennifer Wilbanks in the made-for-TV movie that inevitably will made. Phil Anschutz may be trying to buy the rights as you read this.

In all seriousness, we wish the Owens nothing but the best.