Is "Happily ever after" a myth?
I have been pondering the power of myths lately, and the question arises--Is the old Cinderella myth of "Happily ever after" true or false?
We never find out if Cinderella and Prince Charming had arguments over how much she spent on her ball gowns.
Did Sleeping Beauty and her prince fight over how to raise their children?
I wonder if Snow White and her prince argued over how much time she spent with her loyal dwarf friends and whether they should have sleepovers at the castle?
This year's North Stoddard County Progress issue is all about the theme "Happily Ever After," so the reporters--my daughter Kristin and myself--have been interviewing couples who have been married "a long time"--anywhere from 27 to 72 years.
We've been looking for patterns and advice:
* Don't go to bed mad.
* Keep the lines of communication open.
* "Let him think he's right--even when he isn't," says one feisty Bell City schoolteacher.
* "Give more than 50/50!" advises an Advance couple, married 57 years.
* Treat each other with respect.
Most of the twelve couples we interviewed had been married since they were teenagers, but at least one couple was on their second marriage, after an unsuccessful first attempt with someone else.
One husband said, "The second time, you know what it's all about."
I was married 32 years before my husband passed away, and I remember one of his unspoken pieces of advice: "Never let her know how much money you have."
I never took offense, because it was true that he was much more frugal with finances than I was. After he was gone, I worried that I would "go broke" within a few short months.
He's been dead 17 years now, and I've managed to keep my head above water, so to speak... I think fear is a strong motivator!
The NSC Progress issue comes out on August 27, 2014.
Some of the stories will bring tears to your eyes, and I really believe the assignment was an especially good one for my 32-year-old daughter, who has recently been hired as a free-lance reporter for our newspaper.
Take a look at our efforts and see if you can pinpoint the reasons why some couples fit the profile of "happily ever after."
Comments
- -- Posted by GONENOW on Sun, Aug 24, 2014, at 6:25 PM
- -- Posted by Dexterite1 on Sun, Aug 24, 2014, at 7:32 PM
- -- Posted by Madeline1 on Mon, Aug 25, 2014, at 6:57 PM
- -- Posted by GONENOW on Tue, Aug 26, 2014, at 8:31 PM
- -- Posted by Madeline1 on Thu, Aug 28, 2014, at 5:39 AM
- -- Posted by thequeen1973 on Sun, Sep 14, 2014, at 1:01 AM
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