As I sat and ate my solitary lunch, I couldn’t help but notice the couple sitting at the table next to me- He was overweight, balding and in his late fifties, she was overweight, graying and probably a few years younger. From the moment they sat down they hadn’t exchanged a single word. He looked through a newspaper, she looked around the room; both horribly bored. They seemed so cold, so uninvolved, so ancient. There wasn’t a single semblance of tenderness or warmth between them. They were like an Israeli and a Palestine being forced to share a meal at the same table. At one point I saw her stare at her husband for about 15 seconds. I think she was hoping he’d look up and smile, or grab her hand across the table, or simply share a story from the paper, but he never looked up at her pleading eyes. She eventually looked away, defeated. There was so much misery at that table. Lack of communication, lack of affection, lack of sweet words, sweet kisses, sweet touches- had turned them into strangers. It had probably been years since they had fun together, laughed together, made love. I sat next to them until I finished my meal and then I got up and left.
As I walked out of the restaurant I thought to myself: “I will never allow M and I to turn into them.”
I wish you all the luck in the world in achieving this Lali….everything starts with a dream I guess.
Lee: I don’t think it’s something hard to achieve, relationships involve compromise, dedication, and some work. As long as you remember these three things, and NEVER take your partner for granted, it’ll be much easier to be in a happy, healthy relationship. I also think that affection is very important in a relationship. Little things like holding hands while you walk, a peck here and there, a hug, a smile…all these things fuel intimacy and therefore are like a multi-vitamin for your relationship.
) BTW, hope all is well with you my friend!
So, hopefully Lee, I’ll be one of the lucky ones, I sure am going to give it a try. Misery is not my cup o’ tea.