Are you mad... read on?

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I'd be hitting my 20th anniversary with The Loved One in February, except...

Congratulations. And thanks for plenty of notice (we will all be invited to the party I assume...).

Over 18 years of marriage for me - still going strong

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I'd be hitting my 20th anniversary with The Loved One in February, except...

Congrats as well. I've now been married for 25 years.
Over here everybody who wants to marry, marries.
Only restriction: only two persons at one time may tie the knot.

Originally Posted by happy_terd

True love is important. Cling to one's soul mate wherever one may find the other and never let go. Gender is not important. What is important is commitment, honesty, integrity, and forgiveness. This of course is merely the opinion of one man who loves his other.

a big kiss for that HT.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by happy_terd

I just hit my 13 year anniversary.

The secret to a successful marriage is honesty, commitment, love, and a good sense of humor.

And friendship.

Just past the 14 year mark here.

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I'd be hitting my 20th anniversary with The Loved One in February, except...

It's effing stupid.

I know in the UK there are people who are fighting for homosexual couples to be allowed to have a marriage/wedding ceremony (rather than the civil ceremony they can currently have) and also for heterosexual couples to be able to have a civil ceremony if they don't want a church or registry office wedding.

[astrangerhere]

I'm in the same boat as Marc (montsnmags) on this one. We'll be up for 7 years in May, less the little peice of paper that isnt legal here either. It is a little disheartening to see how cheaply couples who can get married throw it away so quickly.

But for all that, I bought my Lady a ring and am comfortable knowing that of all our married friends and other couples we know, we're clearly more stable and committed than most of them. Lemonade out of lemons and all that

[SolRaven]

Marriage: The number one cause of divorce.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

[beppe]

Unluckily, I lost the chance of a long term marriage with my first wife (high school sweetheart). I say unluckily, because in breaking our marriage, among other things, we dissipated the unique patrimony of those shared experiences gathered while growing together from teenage into adulthood and maturity.

Some time I see some old friends of mine, that have managed to wade through difficulties similar to the ones I succumbed to while maintaining their union. I look at them with a hint of regret for what I have wasted. I said I but it is probably we that I should be using. Just a hint mind you, as there is nothing we can do about it. When my second marriage went kaboom, after 14 years, with my first we sort of gave it a try to see if we could recover something of the old, how to call it, magic it was not, the old gear meshing. We even went on a trip together. No way. Then a new interest came in and that is a complete different story.

[Pookeysgirl]

Tomorrow's my 3 month anniversary, I hope we make it through the day

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by lene1949

When a friend of mine had 5 marriages behind her, and I just couldn't make it to her sixth marriage (all within a 10-year period), I had to tell her I would be there for the next one... I didn't see her again.

Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with bipolar during her 5th marriage, and it turned out that everyone left her, after they found out she slept with a butcher's knife under her pillow... Her 6th marriage lasted less than 3 months.

I sleep with a pistol in the nightstand drawer. is that unsettling?

Originally Posted by desertblues

Congrats as well. I've now been married for 25 years.
Over here everybody who wants to marry, marries.
Only restriction: only two persons at one time may tie the knot.



a big kiss for that HT.

I've often thought that group marriages (a la Heinlein) would be perfect.

Originally Posted by Pookeysgirl

Tomorrow's my 3 month anniversary, I hope we make it through the day

good luck?

[LCF]

Originally Posted by beppe

Unluckily, I lost the chance of a long term marriage with my first wife (high school sweetheart). I say unluckily, because in breaking our marriage, among other things, we dissipated the unique patrimony of those shared experiences gathered while growing together from teenage into adulthood and maturity.

Some time I see some old friends of mine, that have managed to wade through difficulties similar to the ones I succumbed to while maintaining their union. I look at them with a hint of regret for what I have wasted. I said I but it is probably we that I should be using. Just a hint mind you, as there is nothing we can do about it. When my second marriage went kaboom, after 14 years, with my first we sort of gave it a try to see if we could recover something of the old, how to call it, magic it was not, the old gear meshing. We even went on a trip together. No way. Then a new interest came in and that is a complete different story.

Sorry to hear the first 2 stories. I hope the "complete different story" is a nice one

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

I sleep with a pistol in the nightstand drawer. is that unsettling?

You are doing it, because there is no way you can hide it under your clothes, aren't you? Sorry, seeing the post ant the avatar... I just couldn't resist

Btw I think the problem was the combination between bipolar *and* the knife under the pillow.



Me, we I mean have 5,5 Year anniversary in just a few days Marriage is planned... for the time when we can afford the whole show... which could take some more years :/

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

I sleep with a pistol in the nightstand drawer. is that unsettling?

It would be if I slept with you.

Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

[mrscoach]

I don't understand people thinking of marriage as disposable, either. I've been married to the DH (dear hubby) for 23 years this past July. It hasn't always been easy, but we don't fight, we just discuss and disagree. We usually agree on the big things, too.

I feel that too many people go into committed relationships with the thought that if it doesn't work out it isn't a big deal, they'll just separate or divorce. They completely miss the meaning of committed and think of it as being 'committed until I change my mind or I get bored'.

[pholy]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

No, no, no, my happy friend. Nothing bad... we just share the same gender.

Sharing is pretty important in any long term relationship.

(Along with all the other stuff people mentioned as I read on down...)

Congratulations!

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by mrscoach

I don't understand people thinking of marriage as disposable, either. I've been married to the DH (dear hubby) for 23 years this past July. It hasn't always been easy, but we don't fight, we just discuss and disagree. We usually agree on the big things, too.

I feel that too many people go into committed relationships with the thought that if it doesn't work out it isn't a big deal, they'll just separate or divorce. They completely miss the meaning of committed and think of it as being 'committed until I change my mind or I get bored'.

I've been with my hubby for just over 5 years (married for almost 3 months). We have 4 children altogether (2 mine, 2 his), and 3 psycho ex boyfriend/girlfriend/wife to deal with and there's a 13 year age difference between us. With all the money problems, lack of work, housing, custody battles, etc. we deal with, we have to work on our relationship everyday. Somedays it's been more of a struggle than others, but not once have I ever regretted being with him. I took my vows and meant them. He's my pookeybear

[Suzanna]

Originally Posted by Pookeysgirl

Tomorrow's my 3 month anniversary, I hope we make it through the day

LOL!

I wonder how many of these MAD marriages are ones that never should have taken place in the first place. It never ceases to amaze me why people are hesitant to call off a wedding when doubts surface leading up to the date, but then jump to divorce afterward. Wouldn't it be so much easier just to postpone the marriage or call it off altogether? Or people who think their partner will somehow magically change after marrying and things will be better.

Anyway, I'm closing in on 14 years myself.

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by Sao

LOL!

I wonder how many of these MAD marriages are ones that never should have taken place in the first place. It never ceases to amaze me why people are hesitant to call off a wedding when doubts surface leading up to the date, but then jump to divorce afterward. Wouldn't it be so much easier just to postpone the marriage or call it off altogether? Or people who think their partner will somehow magically change after marrying and things will be better.

Anyway, I'm closing in on 14 years myself.

I agree . Congrats on 14 years!

I also wonder how many of these marriages are kids trying to be grown ups too soon I also don't agree with getting married because there's a baby on the way. The kids would rather their parents be seperate and happy than together and miserable.