Shoe by Gary Brookins and Susie MacNelly for February 10, 2010

A chip off the old block, I’d say.

god, how many parents did he have…..? he’s been divorced 4 times.

I always heard that if your parents didn’t have any children, the chances are you won’t either..

not my mama, maybe yours

Carrying on the family tradition. Does it end with Shoe or will it live on?

Celibacy is definitely not hereditary.

Hmm. I got divorced at 30. My parents got divorced (Finally!) when I was 35. Both of them are remarried, I’ve been with the same guy for 10 years (there are financial reasons we can’t marry). So does it act in reverse?

There’s a lot to say about celibacy. For example, it cuts down on over population and it prevents one from having to go through divorce hell.

JRBJ I agree. Unfortunately the gene pool is reversing evolution when the intelligent postpone or reduce reproduction. Unfortunately you have to be able to read to understand Zero Population Growth..

Celibacy is a crock. I have been involuntarly celibate since before my divorce (I drove off the only woman crazy enough to marry me). If you don’t want kids, there are things known as “birth control.”

Find someone to love. The quote is true, “Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.”

Parents, married over 60 years (and there were some tough times) Brother married over 30 years (and again through tough times) me, married over 35 years, again managing to survive difficulties…. if you make a commitment you also need to work on keeping it. Once the honeymoon is over the day to day can get “boring” for some. Those divorce as soon as problems come up. Others weather the storms and end up better off over all.

Avolunteer–I agree wholeheartedly!

I think the reason divorce runs in families, is because the dysfunctional methods are passed down from one generation to the next by example. It is possible to learn better ways of relating with each other, to break the cycle of divorce, but it takes work & commitment.

Even the best marriages have their ups and downs, but there are such things as “irreconcilable differences.” People continue to grow after they marry (particularly if they marry young), and they don’t always grow TOGETHER.

My mother’s parents divorced when she was young, yet her marriage to my father was long and happy. My sister-in-law was married and divorced before she met my brother, but her SECOND marriage is grand. (For that matter, so was my GRANDMOTHER’S second marriage.)

Marriage should not be entered into lightly, and neither should it be discarded casually, but divorce is sometimes the only choice. You only have one life, and it’s stupid to stay tied to someone you can’t stand (or worse, someone abusive) “til death do you part.”

My parents divorced when I was 4 years old and both remarried. They have been with their second spouse for over 30 years now and I have been married since I was 23 years old. We are heading towards our 17th wedding anniversary and are expecting our first child.

Don’t believe everything you read!

Years ago (about 25), I had two friends who got together, “Fred and Ethel” (I knew each before they knew each other). Fred was Irish Catholic, and had grown up with parents who fought all the time but would never consider a divorce. Ethel’s mother, on the other hand, was then on her fourth husband.

When Fred and Ethel would argue between themselves, Ethel would get up and walk out rather than let it get to the screaming, plate-throwing stage. Fred, on the other hand, would be amazed whenever Ethel left, saying “Come on, that wasn’t a FIGHT, it was just an intense discussion!”

I don’t know what Fred ended up doing, but Ethel got married (for the first time) in her mid-thirties, and happily remains so 10 years later.

Avolunteer - Well said!

Marriage is not a contract - it’s a covenant. It takes a couple of people with real character to put aside selfishness and really LOVE the other - even when the other is being un-loveable. The goal should be to out-love each other. Always be kind and treat your spouse as YOU would want to be treated.

It works.

I’m happily married for 25 years this August. Parents, who taught us this are happily married for over 53 years; siblings all happily married for 20+ years.

Choose well. Marry your best friend; don’t decide with your pants.

Totally agree with ‘Avolunteer’. Parents were married for over 40 yrs before Mom passed and 1.5 yrs later, Dad. I have been married for 44yrs this May and I owe it all to her. Oldest daughter has been married almost 20 yrs and youngest going on 10 so I guess it runs in the family. You just have to work at it.

Parents married for 61 years when Mom passed, brother married for 41 years so far, other brother married for 28 years come March. I’ve been divorced twice, but have now been happily married for 26 years. Maybe there is truth in it. My son is also divorced.

My parents are still married.

(Chorus) I’m still waiting for the good news that I was really adopted.

I wish people would quit telling me I look just like my mother.

Repeat chorus.

Wow! All i got out of this was: He can’t be too old if he doesn’t realize he likely has a LOT more in common with them than he’ll ever admit. The discussion on divorce is like politics and religion, a great way to break up a marriage. :)

Ask them who your supposed to look like, Mrssky.