Sunday, April 04, 2010

It's all a matter of timing

It struck me the other day that of my contemporaries the three longest-lasting relationships are all outside marriage. It came as a shock to all of us when a couple I know realised they'd been together for thirty years.

That's when the problem arose.

It's easy enough to decide on the anniversary date of a marriage: there's bits of paper and stuff to provide a mark on the calendar. But if you don't get married...?

"I reckon that the third date's the one we should count. That's the one where we decided we wanted to go out together," he suggested.

"Hmm... You're probably right," she agreed. "Anyhoo, we can't count the first date."

"Why can't you count the first date?" I asked.

It had been a long night and I was tired, otherwise I'd have had more sense.

"Och, no, that one doesn't count," she explained. "I thought he was a right idiot."

"What did you think of her?" I asked.

"I'm saying nothing. I'm still in trouble for not eating all my lunch in May 2001."

11 comments:

Charlie said...

I think they should use the date they moved in together and commingled their books (I'm a romantic devil).

Bill Lisleman said...

"I'm still in trouble for not eating all my lunch in May 2001"
I can relate. I'm still in trouble for putting the wrong syrup on my eggos (do you have eggos in the UK?). I guess frozen waffles do not rate good syrup.

Pat said...

I was going to say 'bed' but Charlie puts it more poetically.
WV mouthi:)

Charlie said...

It's good to see you, Lisleman. Eggo frozen waffles—you're quite the gourmet. Or is it gourmand?

Scarlett Parrish said...

Book co-mingling seems like a level of commitment I am not yet ready for with anyone. Hats off to anyone who takes that step!

Kevin Musgrove said...

Charlie: I think that would appeal to them.

lisleman: we don't have eggos over here but I know whereof you speak. When he's in real trouble he's reminded of the time he fried eggs in the wrong oil.

I still get black looks for skittishly calling a Mexican meal "beans on toast" in 1995.

Oh Patricia! (-:

Scarlett: I know what you mean, the thought of it makes me very nervous.

Gadjo Dilo said...

I was once publically humiliated by the woman I loved for using too much oil when making pancakes. We weren't married, but it felt like being served divorce papers.

Kevin Musgrove said...

Gadjo: it's behaviour like that leads to tights full of eggshells.

savannah said...

41 years, i rest my case. at this point, the fact that we still like each other is a miracle, sugar! ;~D xoxoxoxo

Lulu LaBonne said...

Although there was a marriage date we still can't agree when it all 'started'

Kevin Musgrove said...

Savannah: probably just stubbornness (-:

Lulu: most married people I know can only agree that they were plastered at the time.