My husband came home from work one day and handed me a book about improving our marriage. "Am I really that bad?" I asked, looking down at the book as my lips began to quiver and mascara ran down my cheeks. Without hesitation, he replied, "Yes." I realized that passing the book to me was his cry for help. Maybe the last one he'd deliver. I suddenly felt sad, scared and very, very sorry.
Like most women who are single well into their 20s, I felt pressured by girlfriends who insisted, "Everyone wants to get married" and, "You’re just saying you don’t care because you haven’t been proposed to yet." Then it happened: Andy and I became engaged. Not only did I get a beautiful ring and a partner for life, but I also got a serious status upgrade. Society sees marriage as the ultimate maturity gauge — for better or for worse.
On the verge of a breakup, Catherine and her boyfriend decided to give an open relationship a try. Here, she explains the logistics of hooking up with her boyfriend’s blessing (is cuddling allowed?), and how their unusual arrangement has cemented their bond as a couple.
I’m not a trust fund baby, nor do I have a sugar daddy. I just want to see the world with my husband, so I quit my job, packed my bags and left. My marriage has never been the same.
I was never one of those little girls who dreamed of her wedding day. In fact, I've only vaguely considered it. I know I want an elegant, traditional ceremony. I imagine my future wife in a white dress, bouquets of lilies and guests celebrating the most important day of our lives. My hope of a traditional wedding, however, ends there. There’s no such thing as a traditional gay wedding ... not yet, anyway.
I was 14 years old, and to be honest, back then I was more concerned with my grades at school and the newest Justin Timberlake CD than boys. He was in the same class as me and a typical awkward teen boy: shy, had braces, but cute in that dorky sort of way. Growing up in the same neighborhood, Alex and I used to walk the same route home from school every day. After he sheepishly asked me out one day, I reluctantly said okay.
Since we often think of celebration as synonymous with splurging, celebrating a special occasion without spending a ton of money can be a challenge. Here are nine ideas to help you plan a romantic date night that doesn't break the bank.