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And they lived happily ever after

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INA VERY old issue of Philadelph­ia News, columnist Larry Fields confessed: “I lead a life of wine, women and song (by the way, a wonderful waltz of Johann Strauss!) – it’s cheaper than petrol, food and rent!” Mmmhhh.... Some marriages are made in heaven. You know some? I do. The best of the rest are downto- earth. Maybe also yours? I am blessed and happy celebratin­g my 41th anniversar­y with my wife during this month of March. Maybe you remember this: “Then the prince swept the lovely young maiden into his arms and carried her home to his castle. And they live happily ever after!” Indeed, they did.

What I would like to see is an autonomous in home affairs study of all these titles of nobility bearers seven years after their happily-everafter marriages. Or even earlier, because the so- called darned and tricky seventh marriage year could be even the first one already. The truth is that life isn’t made up of the continual highs found in the initial stages of courtship. Of course, flirting is fun and a wide groove exists. But after a while our system needs a rest. Unanimousl­y we’re in the second stage sooner or later and our marriage life badly needs a new outside coating. All of a sudden, t he partner prefers day and night watching all the sports channels, falls asleep while you’re revealing your innermost secrets and even forgets the anniversar­y for the first or even second time. Just bear in mind: You’ve won each other’s acceptance and sometimes even feel terribly gloomy. This acceptance shouldn’ t be under valued. Even we see a house that has to be cleaned, many other things have to be organized, and the partner, who looks as fatigued and bored as you feel. Logical question: “That’s it? That WAS it?” And suddenly, we experience­d the third stage and learned why it’s worth the ups and downs. Maybe we men don’t mention any more, how incredible she looks, but we enjoy bleating and grousing at her spending innumerabl­e hours putting her together. But then, suddenly, we men unload the garbage without being asked for it. Although no marriage is continuall­y blissful – it can be pretty good most of the time. When we last through arguments, money worries, and kid’s problems or slowly but surely coming up mid-life crises, we should face reality that our relationsh­ip is not always a big day celebratio­n. It’s because the fundamenta­l reason for a marriage has outlasted the craziness of day- to- day living: we love each other. That’s MY idea of “Happily ever after, indeed!”

When we last through arguments, money worries, and kid’s problems or slowly but surely coming up mid-life crises, we should face reality that our relationsh­ip is not always a big day celebratio­n. It’s because the fundamenta­l reason for a marriage has outlasted the craziness of day-to-day living: we love each other. That’s MY idea of “Happily ever after, indeed!”

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