I really miss exotic vacations. It’s been far too long since I’ve felt the white sands of a Caribbean beach between my toes, sipped homemade rum from a laundry detergent bottle at an open-air bar, or sampled Jamaica’s local herbs (turmeric, of course!). The hot blast of tropical wind that would greet us as we stepped off the plane is a distant memory, and the thieving “naughties” that would swoop down to steal bites of my breakfast seem like figments of my imagination. Yes, traveling has changed a lot since I became a parent. I find photos of friends and their children in foreign countries perplexing, since any sensible customs agent would probably deny entry to my snarling, fussing family.I remember making promises on those sun-drenched beaches to one day expose our future children to new cultures in lifechanging destinations. We met families traveling with infants, toddlers and older kids who made it look easy. Their children splashed happily in the pool and sat quietly during meals. There was no doubt in our minds that our children would be sophisticated world travelers. Then we became parents of two rambunctious boys and realized our lofty aspirations would have to wait until they were older…much older. My kids can make a trip to the grocery store in a mini-van equipped with a DVD player look more difficult than crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a canoe.
Fifty percent of marriages stay together— through sickness and through health, until ultimately death does them part. Nearly all of us walk down that aisle with the intention of being part of this exclusive group. Unfortunately, nearly half of us don't make the cut. If there were only some kind of blueprint to a successful marriage, a list of rules we could follow to remain as happy and in love as the day we said “I do.” Well, perhaps there is one, and maybe it's not as complicated as you imagined it would be to follow.
If you find yourself looking for a celebration beyond the Jordan Almond variety white wedding, you’re in good company. A Google search for “alternative weddings” will yield approximately 70 million hits. Scouring the information, you’ll find ideas from the gothic cemetery wedding (yes, the officiant will carry a scythe), to boutique, glamour-camping weddings in Ireland.
I am married to my high school sweetheart, Jon. I fell in love with him in 10th grade. Twenty-five years ago we got married right out of college and took these simple vows: I take you to be my wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish ‘till death do us part. Saying the words in front of hundreds of friends and family was the easy part. Living those vows every day for the past 25 years has been hard work worth doing.
the bride with domestic supplies from crock pots and ironing boards to a naughty negligee and heated massage oils.
