Marriage

I hear way too often about the "sanctity" of marriage and the importance of family values - usually from people who have nice glass houses and a habit of tossing rocks. Marriage is first and foremost a business relationship. Anyone that says differently is likely not married or not going to be married for very long. A healthy marriage is a partnership of equals (and I don't mean finances here - I mean everything else) each giving of their time, attention, affection to the goals, dreams and worries of the other.
A friend of mine is about to embark upon an arranged marriage of sorts. His parents have been sorting through a bevy of prospective brides, sending him pictures of their top choices. He has selected one and is pursuing a relationship. It surely beats the efforts so many folks go through with corporate matchmakers like eHarmony match.com. But I think this only works within a culture that values marriage not as a magical romantic happily ever after prospect but as a partnership where love grows.
I started thinking about the type of wife my in-laws would have selected for my husband. It would not have been me and the marriage would have been a total loss. I can tell you now that she would be an elementary school teacher that plays the violin beautifully. My in-laws would want a daughter-in-law that was smart but not too smart, quiet and sweet, musically inclined and would look to her husband for guidance. I am so not that person. You are welcome, honey.