Mistakes in Marriage

Love and marriage: two peas in a pod, like white on rice, tea for two, you for me, tra la la la la laa. They just go together, right? Maybe not always. Recently I received an e-mail request for stories from people who knew they were making a mistake as they walked down the aisle but went ahead with it anyway. These stories are for a book some friend of a friend is putting together. A book about people who knew they were making a mistake but got married anyway. I've sure done things I knew I'd regret - now that I think about it, I remember shoplifting as a teenager and just having a sinking pit in my stomach, my internal dialog screaming, "no! stop! you're going to get caught!" and then, of course, getting caught. But shoplifting lipstick as a 13 year old is not the same type of mistake as committing to stay with one person, love and honor them, cherish them in sickness and health, for the rest of your life. Who walks down that aisle knowing it is a mistake and then what happens to them? kids, home, family pets, all that good stuff? It'll be an interesting book.

It got me to thinking about the mistakes I've made in my marriage. Here's what I came up with (maybe there will be more after another cup of coffee) Being Disrespectful. You know, when people treat those they love the very most with the very least amount of respect. Well, I am guilty of that from time to time. I guess I have new gratitude today that, even though we may not always treat eachother with the respect we deserve (it goes both ways) at least we are both on the same page in wanting to be here, in this marriage, together. I wonder, can you fake that? Those people who married in error, can they fake it til it works? You know, "Fake it til you make it?" Or, like that old tune, "Love the one you're with," and have it work? I guess we'll just have to wait for that book to come out.