I have made it through the rain
have made it through the rain. Last night I spent the evening with my best friend and his wife. He is pastor and has been counseling people for 11 years. So he has a unique perspective to share with me that many good friends could not offer. We’ve talked on the phone extensively, but last night was revealing for me.
See I’ve been stuck on many points; the why’s, how could she, and biggest of all, how we related to each other most times. I felt that she was the one because of the values, shared goals, etc. I’ve been over all this before. I had a quiet certainty about us. My friend, however, broke it down for me like this.
“Ka1, you were looking at all the positives and all the reasons why it could work. Not surprising you do that in all areas. But you neglected to look at the holes, or the reasons it couldn’t work.” He then took a piece of paper, and made two columns; one for Holes and one Possibilities. For Holes he put the following:
1. Lack of Commitment. Not because she left me and the relationship. But because in the seven years we have been together she has had lunch or met her ex four times. She’s 0-4. “Ka1, you told her you did not want her to do that. She even had her mother and male friends tell her that it is inappropriate, but she did it any way. Why? Because she wanted to. She wanted to do it, and so what you felt or thought just did not matter. A woman that is committed to you or a relationship would not do that.” He gave a few other examples, all surrounding the theme of not giving to me or choosing the relationship over other things. “These issues never came up a lot so you never saw the pattern as clearly as that.
2. She’s a young girl- “Ka1, she’s young. And by that I don’t mean her age. I mean her lack of experience in life. She does not have the tools to be a wife. She’s not lost a family member, she’s not lived on her own, she has not been dogged out by a bunch of guys. She has no wellspring of experiences that required sacrifice from herself. In many ways she’s still Daddy’s little girl.
3. Inequities-“What does she bring to the table to enhance you? She looks pretty on your arm, and she’s fun, but what else. What, she believes in you? How do you know? By my count you have known what you wanted to do in life up until this year. And yet as you have a career crisis, she finds it unattractive? You bring support, belief, emotional support for her career and self-esteem. What is she bringing? If she stopped working to make a career move there’s no doubt in my mind that you would do whatever is necessary to make it work until she figured it out. Would she do that same?”
There was little I could say. But then he leaned in and gave me the truth of the matter. “Ka1, here is the problem. You were ready to marry her because you loved her, and did not want anyone else. But also because she was a good, even great girlfriend. She made a good companion. Someone to enjoy travel, dates, holidays, dreams and goals with. I think you have enjoyed your time with her as a boyfriend. But girlfriend and boyfriend status does not require much. Much must be given as a husband and wife. There’s requirements that you never face as an unmarried couple. She’s not ready and does not have the skills to move to the next level. Take football as an example, there are some people that were great college players, and then go to the NFL, and we never here from them again. Marriage is the NFL. You’ve been living in the NCAA. She can’t go to the next stage. You can. You’re ready. She’s not. Not for you, not for anyone. You were right you did fit, as long as you were not moving to the next level. As long as you stayed girlfriend and boyfriend”
And then I had my AHA moment and I knew it was true. He was right. It made sense. That does not mean I don’t miss her, desire her any less. But I placed all my emphasis on what made us a good couple. I didn’t think about what I needed in a good wife. I thought they were the same, but they are not. She’s not there. And she might not get there at all. My other fear of her finding someone else and being happy with them, and giving them what I wanted is a false fear. She can’t give it to them either. Its not in her. Maybe it will be one day. It’s shame, if she could then maybe we would work. But for now, I have to just deal with the fact that, in the last 7yrs I have not been in a rush to be married. I was with who I Loved and that was fine. Hell, maybe if I had not proposed we’d still be together, how ironic would that be.
I feel better than days. My mind is clear. I still miss her. I still wish we could go out, and do the things couples do. That will remain the same for some time I believe, but I think the agony is over. And now I just have the time and emotional void that comes from the lost of a relationship. And that, I can deal with.
How to make lemonade out of lemon rinds
Weddings are more than a promise between two lovers, they are an event. In fact they are multiple events. There’s the wedding itself, the engagement party, bachelor party, showers, honeymoon; it is one big mish-mash of stringed events that all take planning and dreaming. So what do you do when the wedding is off? Even if you have not sent the invitations or booked the hotels and catering, there is still a good deal planning, and mental visualizing that goes along with thinking about the perfect bachelor party, err, engagement party.
In my case, I had dreams of how all of that would go. Now, I won’t be getting married. But you know what? I’m going to steal an attitude and clue from the female playbook, and just flip it around. How do I mean? Simple, I refuse to be sad on the day and week this coming year that I was supposed to get married. I’ll have my own personal celebration. I’m calling it the “Wedding Reversal Plan.”
I’m going to focus on the following events and items that are usually entailed in preparation for the wedding and on the wedding day itself.
1. Invitations
2. Wedding dinner party
3. Engagement pictures
4. Wedding/Honeymoon
5. Grooming pre-wedding and on the day of wedding.
I had this idea specifically for the weekend of the wedding, but have expanded and here is my plan.
1. Invitations-I won’t be inviting anyone to an event, but you know what I am moving in a new direction in my professional career. I’m going to announce it via postcards to all the friends, family, and business associates I was going to invite to the wedding. Maybe I’ll even send one to Tina. Just kidding, I’ll be nice. J
2. Wedding Dinner Party-This is usually a thank you to all the friends and family that have helped or are participating in the wedding. But you know, even without the wedding I have a lot to thank my friends for. They’ve been there for me these last few weeks like they always have in my life. They’ve heard the anger, tears, pain, and screaming. So I’m taking them all out dinner. And while I’m at it. I’m going to get them some gifts as well—in place of the gifts given to the groomsmen.
3. Pre-wedding and day of wedding grooming- Every body wants to look good for their wedding day. Even though women are the ones most often concerned about losing weight to get into the gown, there are number of things men can and should do as well. I’ll do them all: hit the gym, get the teeth whitened, and get some new clothes. I’ll need this for the next step.
4. Engagement/Weeding Pictures-Tina and I never got around to taking engagement pictures. We had the person picked out, but kept postponing. Well, I’m going to set up a photo shoot for myself. I’ll record my newer looks, and this has the bonus of providing me with killer pics for my Face book page and internet dating site. Score one for me.
5. Wedding/Honeymoon-my wedding date originally was May 30th, 2009. Honey moon to start that weekend at Sandals in St. Lucia. Well, I’m going to sell the ring, take the proceeds and take myself to Hedonism III in Jamaica. I doubt the idea of me supposed to be getting married that weekend will enter my mind while at Hedo.
6. Lastly, there is the 1st wedding dance as husband and wife. Tina and I had talked about this and we had decided we were going to surprise everyone at the wedding. We would start slow, and then bust out with a hot Tango dance. We never started the classes. Guess what? No, reason I can’t take the classes anyway. This gets a bonus points because I keep hearing dance lessons are a great way to meet fun and single women. Hmmm, sounds a like a plan to me.
And to put the final stamp on this all. As a freelance writer I’ll find some magazine or website to write about the whole idea and process for. So I’ll have fun, gain great memories, and get paid too. Aaah, isn’t life grand.:D