Happy Endings

There's a new show on ABC called Happy Endings.  It's pretty funny, funny enough it earned an automatic DVR'ing upgrade.  It's about a group of friends, I think they're in NYC, but they're all trying to find that special someone and live happily ever after (hence the title).

But it just got me to thinking, why is it that finding your spouse/life partner/whatev and then settling down with them, considered THE END?  Every little girl's fairytale ends with the princess marrying her prince charming and riding off in the sunset... 

I can see from a single person's point of view, finding your soul mate might seem like your life's ultimate quest.  And once that's accomplished, it's all rainbows and butterflies from then on.

August 19, 2006

But let's be realistic here.  Most folks get married in their mid- to late twenties and the average life expectancy is somewhere around 80.  That's a long time for nothing but rainbows and butterflies.

Just like how no one tells you how hard babies can be, no one tells you how hard marriage can be.  In our ripe ole marriage of five years (well, it'll be 5 yrs in Aug), Cody & I have been through alot together, but I am so thankful to have him.  We've seen the best & the worst of each other and we're both still in it for the long haul.  I thank God every day for giving me such a wonderful man.

But the point of all this woo'ing over my hubby is that August 19, 2006 was most definitely not THE END!  Our fairy tale is still being written, we are still in pursuit of our Happy Ending.  As is everyone.  Married or not.  Kids or not.  Everyone wants to die, well, happy.

Getting ready to get all Jesus freak on you, so brace yourself.  I'll make it brief.

On Easter Sunday what better time to reflect on the crosses we must carry and what reward waits for us at THE END.  So in the meantime, let's just try to enjoy the ride...

How to fold a fitted sheet

So how on Earth do you fold a fitted sheet?  Something about putting one corner inside the opposite corner then vice versa, then fold like a normal sheet.  Sounds simple right?  Usually I'll attempt it, inevitably fail, then just do the ole roll it up trick.  Luckily it gets stretched out over the mattress so no one really notices the wrinkles. 

Whew, crisis averted!  Heaven forbid there be the slightest wrinkle in my sheets!

But it always makes me think about my Grandma Showfety (from my mother's side).  She was your typical 1950's housewife.  She was a nurse in her younger days, met my grandfather and left work to raise her five children.  The house was always pristine, the kids where always at church every Sunday, and you better believe she could fold the crispest, most precise fitted sheet.  There was no way a wrinkle would find their way into those puppies!

But it always makes me think about how times have changed.  My mother, who was a product of the late 70's/early 80's way of raising children, didn't find folding a precise fitted sheet a necessity.  Instead she found making time to play with her children, take us to the park, teach us to play sports, etc, etc more important.  That's not to say my Grandma didn't spend some quality time with her children, my mother has some very fond memories of large family gatherings, annual beach trips, and learning to perfect an Orange Kiss Me Cake recipe that would knock your socks off.  But the 50's were a different time.  Women were told they most keep a spotless home, they must have dinner ready for The Man, things like that.

I'm so thankful I was not a mother during those times!

Of course, who's to say today's society isn't much different.  Women are expected to be back to work six whole weeks after having a baby, if not, look out, because inevitably there's someone right behind you chomping at the bit to get your spot on the corporate ladder.


So no, Grandma Showfety was not able to pass on her uncanny ability to fold a fitted sheet, but if there's anything she passed on that was alive and well during my childhood and will hopefully be the same for Emma's, was that family should always be your top priority.  My daughter knows I love her and that is more important to me than having a successful career or the fact she is currently napping on horribly wrinkled sheets.