My son said "you're prettier than Camilla, you should be married by now!"

[liberalhistorian]

ROFLMAO! Talk about being totally speechless. For some unfathomable reason, my almost-14-year-old son has gotten interested in the histrionic soap opera that is the royal family and was reading about the Charles-Camilla wedding tomorrow.

I've never been married and have been a single parent all of my son's life. I think it bothers him a lot more than it bothers me, especially since I just turned forty. When he said that tonight, after trying desperately to hide my laughter, I tried to explain that marriage wasn't the end-all and be-all of existence and that people should marry because they're with the right person and they want to, not because they feel pressured or are simply scared of being alone. I said it was important to wait for the right person and to be really sure that it was the right person, and that I just haven't met the right person yet.

I also tried to explain that just because someone isn't married doesn't mean they don't have a fulfilling life and just because someone's married doesn't mean they have a great life. Besides, there really aren't too many single men around my area, so he's just gonna have to be stuck with just me for awhile longer, lol.

[jmm]

1. My mom and I discussed the wedding tonight

We came up with a nice song for the event. I'd post the lyrics but I wouldn't want to offend any Mr. Ed fans.

[liberalhistorian]

2. LOL!

That's okay, I get the idea and I think it's even funnier leaving that to the imagination. It sure doesn't surprise me that there's not much interest in the wedding in England, though.

[Triana]

3. Oh my....

...'prettier than Camilla' - wouldn't take much to be prettier than her (a bulldog is prettier than her)!

I'm sure you are MUCH prettier than that horsey-faced ol mudda! :D

And, ya know, there aren't many single men around *anyplace* at our age (I'm 45). If they are single, there's often a reason (or three or so) why they're single (or divorced). Slim pickins. Very slim. Not to say there aren't some great men out there in their 40s (or between 30 and 50 or so or whatever) but there are very very few worth wasting time on.

The ones who *are* decent don't want to be stuck with one woman. THEY have too much to choose from and can always find someone younger and better looking. That's where the priorities of many of them seem to be.

Also men 'our age', don't want women our age. They gotta be 20-something or maybe 30-something at the VERY oldest. When one of *them* isn't available, then maybe they'll call their old standby (some woman in her 40s) or just stay home for the night! I've actually *heard* them talking about that: "Well, I could call old Sandra, since so-and-so isn't around tonight. But Sandra is almost 47, a little more miles on her than I like, so maybe I'll just hang out at home."

Welcome to the pasture! HA!

[liberalhistorian]

5. I know what you mean, I'm afraid I've run into

that occasionally. But there are still a lot of good, decent men out there who look beyond age and looks. A real problem I'm noticing, and this was even mentioned in an article on Valentine's Day in USA Today, is that people are starting to look suspiciously at me because I'm forty and have never been married. The gist was that the "stigma" has now shifted from the divorced to the never married, the attitude being that, if you've never been married, then there must be something "wrong" with you. That's total bullshit, but I'm running into that as well.

[Elidor]

4. Ouch!

To be fair, she does have an engaging smile. And that's as far as I can go with that line of thought.

[SarahB]

6. You know what else?

That exterior stuff doesn't matter so much. I mean, look at Marilyn Monroe or Liz Taylor. In their time, they were goddess, but did they have happy relationships? Hardly. Stuff of substance is more than that anyway. I hope you meet your prince someday though.

[liberalhistorian]

9. That's definitely true, but my son is a teenager

after all, and teens tend to focus more on looks. I did try to explain to him that what's inside a person is much more important than what's outside and that Charles and Camilla have been in love for over thirty years. It truly is a "middle-aged fairy tale" as it's been called.

[Longgrain]

7. I've never been married either, still looking tho...

Never had any kids either, I always thought that made me a loser.

I guess marriage works for some, doesn't work for others.

I always suspected it would work for me, I just haven't had the opportunity yet...

[Triana]

10. bah...it makes you smart..

..not a loser! some of those decent, single men out there (who aren't hung up on the age/looks crap) are in the same boat - and there are a few of them, just not many! their right opportunity just hasn't come along yet and they're taking their time.

better be single/childless than end up with the wrong person and with kids. eeek!

[Longgrain]

15. But I'm anxious to have kids, I know that sound weird coming from

man, but it's all I desire. It was my life's goal, even as a teenager.

Most women my age I've been involved with, there kids are far more important to them than there relationships with men, so I usually just let them go...

[Triana]

21. It doesn't sound weird...

...sounds quite acceptable to me. Good luck! I hope you find a great person soon who wants the same thing you do!

[Longgrain]

22. Me too, The last woman I was seriously involved with...

was a single, never before married mother about 7 years younger than me...I assumed she wanted the same thing too, but apparently she didn't.

I still get depressed every time I hear her name, or see someone who looks like her.

Sorry for the sob story, just one of those old wounds that still opens up once and a while.

[Triana]

34. believe me..

...I know how it feels to be in a relationship and really want it to be or turn out a certain way - finally found someone 'right'- but they don't feel the same way you do. It's exactly where I am! *sigh*

[liberalhistorian]

14. LG, you're NOT a loser,

and certainly not because you've never had kids. I'm sure the opportunity will happen. I know how frustrating it is, believe me, especially when married people say things like that (I've actually stopped listening to married or involved people when they say things like that because, frankly, it's too easy for them to say and what would they know?), but it's true. Too bad you're in MA instead of Ohio, though!

[Longgrain]

18. Tell me when the next fight to Ohio is,

And wire me the airfare...I'll be there. :evilgrin:

[liberalhistorian]

19. Well, I can't speak for all Ohioans, but

I believe there are "fights" every day, everywhere in Ohio! :evilgrin:

[Longgrain]

20. Doh I meant FLIGHT...as in airplane

If you saw some of my previous posts...I've had a half case of beer and am nearing bedtime...

[liberalhistorian]

23. That's okay, I've just polished

off a couple of glasses of white zinfandel, which seems to have gone right to my head; I guess we're even!

[Longgrain]

24. Have a couple of more and join me by the fire...

If you're really prettier than what's her name...

I'll start looking like Brad Pitt to you soon...

[liberalhistorian]

26. LOL!

Believe me, I'd love to join you by your fireplace if you weren't hundreds of miles away, SIGH. Distance is what ended my last serious relationship, too, he moved to Key West to take a job and there were no jobs there for me. It's still depressing to think about once in awhile, it was a good relationship.

Think of me as being there with you in front of your fireplace in spirit!

[Longgrain]

27. Hundreds of miles! Part of what ended my last relation was

That she lived 20 miles away! LOL. I only got to see her two or three days a week. She decided instead to get involved with some local jerk, who I'd rather not describe.

Crying in my beer now...going out for a smoke...

[liberalhistorian]

28. Only 20 miles and she still had

a problem with that????? Most couples I know live farther apart than that! Distance isn't usually a problem if the relationship is already solidly established and you know the separation won't be permanent (temporary job transfer, one takes a job someplace while the other looks for a job there, etc., etc.). But if it isn't yet established, it's pretty hard to do so from a distance, unfortunately.

What they're finding through research, however, is that the internet has really started to change how people find each other and the "procedure and norms of romance" as one study put it. In other words, a lot of people aren't hung up on boundaries and distance anymore. People are finding "the one" on internet sites and moving, sometimes hundreds or even thousands of miles away, and it often works. Usually they're childless or their kids are grown, though, so they don't have to worry about uprooting their kids and their whole lives.

[Longgrain]

32. But gas isn't cheep....and airplane fare...

That would cost me half a work week's salary.

Got to spend it wisely, to pay off the car...

[Yupster]

42. Good one liberalh

I just saw the SouthPark Little League episode last night with the dad fights.

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

45. Feeling for you

i have that wish too. I even know the woman i'd wish to start family. Alas i fear i don't have a snowball chances in hell winning her heart.

I intend to work for the goals (better income/ almost perfect family housing/ driving car etc.) as if i had her love though. I might not have her love but i will have the rest i worked for. Can't do much more than hang the sails in the luv and get as far as the energy of powerful emotions bring you until the calm sets in.

At the end I'll show her what an inspiration she's been to me and what i achieved with it and leave it at that. At least she can't tell she's only attracting abusive cheating pricks.


But one day LG, one fine day you and i will find a worthy soulmate.

[CanuckAmok]

8. Your son rules...

Didn't he say something hysterical about a month ago, that you posted here? Something terribly droll?

[Blue-Jay]

13. I don't believe I've ever used the word "droll" in a sentence.

Maybe I did when I misspelled "drool".

It's one of those words that doesn't roll off my tongue very often. I promise that I'll use it tomorrow, whether it is warranted or not.

[Blue-Jay]

11. Faint praise.

"Prettier than Camilla" = "You have opposable thumbs"

OK - I took a nasty, obvious jab.

[Ellen Forradalom]

12. Wow!

That's a ringing endorsement!

[liberalhistorian]

17. LOL, I know!

It doesn't take much to be prettier than her, that's for sure. OTOH, looks really aren't all that important, or at least they shouldn't be.

[MrScorpio]

16. Out of the mouths of babes

Somebody wants a new daddy?

[liberalhistorian]

25. Actually, his own dad has never been

much of a father, especially after he had another son with his fiance five years ago. He hasn't even seen him in almost two years. We live with my mom and stepdad, though, and my stepdad has been wonderful for him. He has early Alzheimer's now, and my son has been very helpful with him.

I do feel bad that he doesn't really have a "father" father figure, though, especially since I'm not really into the "male" stuff that boys and their fathers do. I did have a serious boyfriend once who was just wonderful with Chris, much better than his own father. Unfortunately, he moved to Key West, Florida, to take a job, and there aren't any jobs there for me so that ended that; I still get depressed over that once in awhile since it was a good relationship.

[MrSandman]

29. Not that one has to do with the other...

But the former is not difficult to achieve.

The latter is extremely difficult to maintain, even when it is good.

[liberalhistorian]

30. Oh, I know how difficult even good marriages

are to maintain, that's for sure. But I think, if you're with the right person, it's worth it. Then again, I've never been married so I've never felt comfortable making comments about marriage when I really don't know what I'm talking about.

That's why it's always puzzled me that my married friends are always asking ME for marital advice, lol. What the hell would I know? I think they just want someone to listen and not be judgmental, so I try to do that.

[MrSandman]

31. You are correct...

The fulfillment is what makes one continue the commitment.

[liberalhistorian]

33. That's true, and I've seen some really

wonderful marriages (my mom and stepdad, my stepsister and her husband, etc.). I'm just starting to really wonder if I'll ever be lucky enough to experience that kind of love, SIGH.

[MrSandman]

36. Good luck..

Don't ever give up.

[tjdee]

35. My kid said "Wow! I've been alive longer than you were with my dad!"

I'd rather get the "prettier than Camilla" thing, LOL!

[Catchawave]

37. Maybe there's a "life lesson" here somewhere.....

...afterall he did marry his best friend.

I guess I just don't understand all this strange fixation on Camilla's physical appearance. We should all look so good at 57 !

[GOPBasher]

38. That's a funny story.

Hi liberalhistorian! I haven't seen you in a while. :hi:

[xmas74]

39. That's ok.

My brother is getting married in October. All I hear about now from my daughter is that I should get married.
The guys that I have met in my area do not want a 30 year old single mother.

[BiggJawn]

40. A satisfying life spent alone...

..beats the holy crap out of Pure Hell spent with somebody.
Been there, got the scars as well as the T-shirt and the other lovely parting gifts.

[SarahB]

41. Amen, brother.

Can I hear a f*cking Hallelujah? People can't grasp the concept of what years of this does to a person unless they've been there. When you been through the shit, you don't have much patience for anyone's petty ass crap anymore.

[BiggJawn]

44. You said it!

But when you been through the shit, you go off when anyone so much as grunts. At least I do.
Thus the root of my anti-social attitudes...

[LynneSin]

43. Camila gives the rest of us women hope that one day we'll find our prince

Seriously.

Diana was a trophy wife. And anyone who is married to a trophy wife has to know that you've got to work hard to keep them happy or the marriage will become miserable. I have a very dear friend from college who was a trophy wife. I kinda felt bad for the husband putting up with her shit all the time and ultimately he left her (the trophy wife) for another woman who was very plain looking. My friend could never understand why he cheated on her and although I felt bad about the heartache she was going through I could understand how it happened.

I'm happy for Charles & Camilla. I hope they have a long and healthy life and I hope and pray they don't put Prince William through the same crap they put Charles though!