Apparently there is a whole marriage versus single debate running wild on the net. Or maybe that’s ran wild on the net, since I’m usually notoriously late for anything. The arguments seem to be running the entire gambit from single people being immature and selfish to married people being delusional and overly righteous. My philosophy is really, who cares? Why is it we need to feel vindicated in our life decisions so badly that we fall to a level that we have to belittle anyone who doesn’t adhere to them, just to reaffirm ourselves? If a person is still single past the age of thirty, just who on earth does it really harm? Those single people have managed to help keep bars, restaurants, movie theatres, etc open, so that us married people have some place to go on our once a month (More like quarter) date night. They are also the ones we married folks can call up, when we unexpectedly have a babysitter, to go do something on a moments notice. Other then maybe having to hear them drone on about their latest conquest or bemoan their lack of a partner once in awhile, my life definitely has a place for single friends.
Marriage is also far from having to settle, or being tied down and suffocated. With the right partner, marriage is having someone to talk to about things you wouldn’t share with anyone else, someone who knows what your feeling without you ever having to say a word. It’s about stabilizing your life and having a direction and a purpose that won’t change with the tides of political and economic forecasts. It’s about having someone who will stand behind you and support you when you need it. And it’s about nurturing and supporting someone else at the same time. It’s a fantastic thing I wish everyone I know will have an opportunity to experience, but it’s not something I think requires a deadline or a hasty decision.
So I hereby declare to all my single friends: I love you guys just the way you are, and I promise never to ask you when you are going to find Mr. or Mrs. Right and settle down and I promise never to send a black cloud over your new relationship, by annoyingly asking (especially in front of him/her) “When’s the wedding?” as long as you promise not to run through the list of all things evil with marriage in front of me. Deal?