I would venture to say that although many are familiar with the concept of marriage somehow it means different things to different people. If I would have posed the question to myself yesterday, I can assure you I would have had a different answer than today.
You see, last night I had a big blow out (not the diaper kind) with my husband.Yesterday, I would have said marriage is (insert something beautiful and romantic). Today after a difficult night, marriage means that I don’t know a damn thing, that even after years of being with someone – at times I’m clueless and can’t get along, but I still love him and don’t want to get along without him.
This morning I found my writing skills and imagination clouded with an after fight hangover. Who am I to say what marriage means? Your guess is as good as mine. So what’s a bummed out wife without an answer to do? I decided to ask the people around me.
Unknown Mami: Okay, I’m conducting a survey?
Everyone: Uh-oh…ugh…
UM: What does marriage mean to you?
Brother in Law’s Lover: That’s not a survey, that’s a question.
BIL: An essay question.
UM: Well, you can just give me one sentence answers.
Unknown Papi: I’m not answering that question today.
UM (to BIL’s Lover): Well?
BIL’s Lover: Shared legal responsibility. Health insurance.
BIL (visibly uncomfortable): I don’t know…What does marriage mean to me?…
UP: That’s not a good question to ask them.
BIL: (nervous laughter)…committing yourself to one person, being with them, and working together for the rest of you life, ’til death do you part…
BIL’s Lover: add FOREVER and EVER!
My Mama: A leegole comPreemayze, bat not espesifically a famalee yoonion. (A legal compromise, but not specifically a family union).
UP: I’ll give you an answer another day.
UM: But I want to write about it today.
UP: (cautiously and slightly irritated) I don’t know. It means ups and downs and being okay with it.
So now, I pose the question to you. What does marriage mean to you? Post your answer in the comments section and I’ll post your answers and link to you in a later post. You should do it because it’s in the name of research and maybe you could teach me a thing or two. I obviously need some guidance.
Oh and you don’t have to be married to answer the question.
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