“Let’s, we oughta stay together, 
Loving you whether, whether,
Times are good or bad, happy or sad.”
Al Green in “Let’s Stay Together”
Hello World!
I don’t know about you, but about two Fridays ago, I was up at 4 a.m. watching Kate Middleton, now Catherine, marrying Prince William. I thought the media focused too much on the event in the months leading up to the big day, but the romantic in me was lured to the wedding nonetheless. As I watched the royal pageantry unfold and reflected on one of my favorite stories as a child, “Cinderella,” I could not tear myself away from the television although I had to turn a big project to turn in that day.
Although I was happy for the royal couple, I also could not help but think of the last wedding that captured that much attention: the wedding of Princess Di and Prince Charles. And we know how that ended. I remember watching the wedding with my mother, and although I did not completely understand what was going on, I remember thinking it seemed like a fairy tale unfolding in front of my eyes. I remember being captivated by Princess Di’s wedding ring – the one that Princess Catherine now wears today. And yet their marriage ended horribly. I wish Princess Catherine and Prince William the best, but I do wonder if they will stay together.
Stateside, we have no royalty, but the family that seems to command the most attention other than the Obamas is the Kennedys. When it was announced yesterday that Maria Shriver, a member of the Kennedy family, and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are separated after 25 years of marriage, I began wondering what does it take for couples to really last till death do them part…I mean how bad could have it have been to separate after spending almost half of their lives together at this point? I read in an article that the recent deaths of Shriver’s uncle and father and rumors of affairs Schwarzenegger allegedy had with other women could could have contributed to the decision to separate.
As someone who has been a commitmentphobe, news like this and the divorce rate in this country makes me 
wonder what are the ingredients of a marital coupling that really has lifetime staying power…What do you think?
Any thoughts?
Jackie,
Like you, I often wonder what is the key to long lasting relationships. I certainly want a marriage that will last forever. However, in many ways I am very sensitive about how do we view quality over quanity. In my own family, my grandparents were married for over 75 years!!! This was a badge of honor and bragging right of my family. Yet when I reflect on growing up with my grandparents I remember my grandmother being unhappy but my grandfather seeming content.
Later in age I found out that although “they stayed together” through the marriage my grandmother never was truly happy because she never accomplished her life’s dreams. Plus, my grandfather was extremely unfaithful.
For me, staying together isn’t to core issue but staying committed to the martial vows and your partner’s well being should be the main goal.
Wow, your grandparents’ story is compelling…Yes, I, too, want quality over quantity if I had to choose, but I hope it is possible to have both..I think certain patterns good and bad are handed down from generation to generation…it is something to think about when we make decisions that will impact the rest of our lives…