Waiting Om a Friend

I'm waiting for Divine Inspiration.

I'm just waiting on plain ol' inspiration, too.

Ah, hell, let's face it. I'm just waiting.

Tradition

I was thinking of my role in "Fiddler On the Roof" - I was much younger then, about to embark on my first marriage. I played Hodel, the middle daughter. Now I'm a Frumah Sara, the shrieking ghost, waiting to happen. Anyway, all of the sudden I think "You know, arranged marriages aren't such a bad idea." Provided they're arranged by people who are truly looking out for your best interests and have a healthy dose of common sense. In fact, arranged marriages should be decided by the brothers, sisters, cousins and best friends, too. And don't forget to give them the family dog test - if he gets past Fido then he'll probably get past Grandma Tzeitel.

I know a lot of long-lasting marriages, but not all that many happy ones. Maybe a handful of people truly happy and/or content with their marriages: Irish, the Lambs, Sam, Ev, Auntie M & Unca H had a pretty decent run. Anybody married less than five years doesn't count. I honestly think...oh, wait, the Lofarros are definitely a good example. But, really, that's not a lot in the grand scheme of things. And you have to wonder, how many of these folks took their parent's advice into consideration when choosing a spouse?

When you fall madly in love, it's incredibly difficult to be practical about what might be ten or twenty years down the road. It doesn't matter what age you are, when you're in the first throes of passion, you don't consider that five years from now there are gonna be times when he doesn't really like her very much, and times when she can't stand living with him right now and you just hope that those weeks never coincide with each other. It's those times when the practical decisions come in handy. Because when you're twenty-five and starting out, you think it's romantic and colorful to live in a condemned garrett, eating raman noodles and "living on love". But if you're 35 and the scenario's the same? Not so much.

If your family is picking a spouse for you, they'll take into consideration all those things headstrong love throws out the window: a future, domestic ability, responsibility, a good family (which is NOT the same as social standing), compatible religious and political views. So when that glorious long rocker hair falls out and those six-packs turn to 2-litres, the sense of humor and kindness to children will keep them attractive.

Anyway, I was just taking a moment to think about a musical I did once.

If I Give My Heart To You

So...it's official. The baby has stopped sleeping and I just told God I [expletive deleted] hate Him. Guess I really am going to hell now...if I wasn't already.

This song we're working on in Sweet Addie's (geez, for thteir membership drive, they're worse than bad used car salesmen)is in my head all the time. A gentle, romantic song that's fun to sing and probably hundreds of years old. The sweet lyrics are as follows:

If I Give My Heart To You
will you handle it with care?
Will you always treat it tenderly
and in every way be there?

If I Give My Heart To You
will you give me all your love?
Will you swear that you'll be true to me
by the light that shines above?

And will you laugh with me when I laugh?
Cry with me when I cry?
And always be as you are with me tonight?

Think it over and be sure,
please don't answer 'til you do.
If you promise all these things to me
then I'll Give My Heart To You.


Sweet, no?

Then I started thinking. Which, as we all know, is not my forte. This couldn't be anything but a woman's song. Meaning no disrespect to my male blogships, a guy singing this song would go more like:

If I Give My Heart To You
Will you know that it's a fake.
Will you see the number stamped on back?
(It's the expiration date)

If I Give My Heart To You
I'll do it if I must.
Just to get the night I'm searching for -
I can't help it, I'm in lust.

And will you laugh at jokes you can't stand?
Cry where I can't see?
And always wear sexy underwear for me?

Think it over (not too long)
Guys need someone else who do
If you promise me that I'll get laid
then I'll give my heart to you.


Sexist? Yes. Cynical? Perhaps. True? Ah...

The Love Boat

It's gettin' close to Love Day. You know, that silly little Hallmark/Florist holiday that nobody believes in but so many husbands and boyfriends forget to take seriously enough that they end up in some cold doghouses?

I love all holidays. I like being festive. I like to coordinate my wardrobe, jewelry and menus. It's fun. All those "Valentine's Day is just a capitalist-invented holiday to help the flower and chocolate industries" are just trying to ruin it for those of us who knew that already and still love it! Hate St. Patty's Day? Wear orange and make a true statement. Hate Valentines? Throw a massacre party.

Personally, I'm all for romance. Real romance - not the order a dozen roses cuz I have to kind of thing that so many (including the husband) do. Most women would take a hand-picked snow crocus over a dozen store-bought flowers any day. Real romance comes from the heart, not the wallet. And the memory. It comes from the memory. First, it helps to remember important dates. That says "It's important to you so it's important to me." There are women who don't really care that much about it. And there are men who really enjoy doing it. And vice versa. Somehow they always end up together, don't they? Secondly, if you spend some time thinking of a gift to guarantee a...return on your investment, shall we say?...then perhaps getting her that Brad Paiseley CD she really wants will stand better than a Whitman's sampler.

I like romantic men. The kind who know that big nights start with a day full of special little moments. We all want to feel as if we're a part of something special. I'd give an example of how one of the most romantic men I've ever known did most of it with a stamp, but he reads this blog and probably wouldn't appreciate that.

In fact, this started out to be a post about the two great romances of my life, a la Valentine's Day rah rah. But I think I might land in hot water that route. Hmmm...maybe I should just go back to my chocolates and roses and leave the Valentine's Day reminders to those greeting card people in KC.

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition

My legal spouse has just informed me that he will be moving to Maine sometime this coming summer. That will make it a full year that we moved here for him and he hasn't been here.

I don't think there is anything more to say.

Would you like that coffin pine or oak?