Match made in heaven!

With all ladies at the lunch table we've all sorts of conversations. Pregnancy (this company is in her mid-thirties so one after the other pops out a baby), shopping, feelings and men! Funny is that once in a while a man joins the table, but if he could he would take his sandwich and run!! I believe that men can learn from female topics, just as men can learn from watching ‘Sex and the City’ (I would watch sports if it would teach me something about the man’s brain, but I’m sure it wouldn’t!!) Anyway…on today’s lunch menu: relationships. Everyone has a different story or experience and I’m a big fan of sharing these story’s with each other.

One of the anecdotes was about a couple who practically had their first date in kindergarten. Yeah, some people meet when they are still in their diapers. They grow up together, start loving one another (as soon as they understand the meaning of love) and eventually become husband and wife. I’m almost a 100% sure that these people grow old together and die hand in hand. It sounds unreal and super romantic, but I know for sure that it happens. Another love story was about two people who just met at wrong time but it was meant to be, so time brought them back together. I guess in this case both of them needed there me-time, be just one before they become two. Another story from a colleague in search for love, was about internet dating...meeting over internet and eventually discover that you’re practically neighbor’s. Walking your dog, cleaning your car, going to the grocery-store…what?? All of that blindfolded!?!?

Now we’re talking about meeting Dutch-style but what about the rest of the world? What about all these countries in Asia, Middle East and Africa, where they believe in arranged-marriages? Your partner for life selected by your parents, brother or even a matchmaker. For us so surreal but it happens. The Indian newspapers are full with personals and not the tacky one we know with half-naked women, but extremely serious family’s searching for family’s with the same standards. They search for the ‘perfect soul mate’ by looking at reputation and wealth of the family. Or even diet routines, age and language! Can you imagine that instead of going on a date we go to a temple and let them take a look at the position of the stars to see if it’s a ‘match made in heaven’. (I’ve to admit that I also check if there’s a horoscope match!!)

Of course I’m a believer of love-marriage all over the world. People should be able to choose whomever they want to be with. But when I listen to all the single ladies at the lunch table; dating can tiring. Starting the entire getting-to-know-each-other-conversation, what basically is nothing more than exchanging age, profession, social life, hobby’s and family. Isn’t that the same as what your family would do for you if they were to arrange your marriage?

 But then when you’ve finally found him and the entire insecure-butterfly-feeling is gone, the hard work starts. Especially after a few years of being together, after you’ve married, when you have kids and even when the kids have moved out! So eventually we all have to work hard to make a relationship work. Whether it is arranged- or love-marriage, approved by the parents or the stars, knowing each other a billion years or not. We have to make it happen and spread the love….