Let me try and paint a picture for you.

A nervous groom waits impatiently in a back room on his wedding day while his soon to be wife take photos with the bride's maids with the photographer. The chapel looks perfect all dressed up in white with floral design on the walls and seats.

Finally the time comes as the groom stands at the alter and the beautiful bride is walked down the isle by her father. Her dess is stunning and almost takes the breath from the groom.

You can see the two make eye contact and you know that they are both anticipating a future together.

The flower girl walks shyly down the isle strowing flowers as she walks. Though she doesn't quite know where to walk, she is guided by one of the bride's maids. Though this is slightly awkward for the procession, the cute little blunder just gives the serves one more memory.

Soon they take their vows. As the groom speaks, he is grinning from ear to ear... knowing that he has made the best decision of his life. And as the bride speaks, her voice quivers as tears build up in her eyes as she can't believe that such a wonderful event is finaly taking place.

Then you see them kiss... and you know that deep down that the magic you see before you is one you will remember forever.

At the reception the two family's that have been joined in matrimony now meet eachother... not one person is having a bad time. The bride and groom fumble trying to interlock their arms as they sip from their wine glass. And even the bride takes a try at trying to pie her new husband in the face with a slice from the beautiful wedding cake.

Later, all the girls are gabbing away at how much of a wonderful couple they make... and all the guys are jesting and poking at the grooms saying things like, "I wonder what YOU will be doing tonight?" And another chimes in, "...more like WHO".

Then as the groom goes to change out of his tux, the men go and dress up their car in the appropriate attire of shaving cream and cans tied to the bumper, with "Just Married" as big as it can be wrote on the back.

As the two drive off to their honeymoon, you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is the best day of their lives... and you are glad that you could take a part of it...


....


Would you believe me if I told you that all this was a bold face lie?

Well, it is... because this perfect picture was the marrage of a blood relitive of me. One that I hold close. And it ended in devorce.

Something that can be so convincing and so promising can end with little hesetation. Since then, my uncle has tried to date again... but they just don't work out. And he gets hurt ever time.

He's a wonderful man... A good christian man who would be a great father. And he gets sh*t on time and time again.

But here's the sad thing. He's not the only one. I have more than enough examples of this happening to MY friends and MY family. The devorce rate is at 50% if I'm not mistaken... I think it may be even worse.

So take the story I just told you.... the perfect wedding. Now flip a coin. Heads? You get to stay together. Tails? Devorce.

Is that worth the risk to take.... honestly?

...

The reason I post this is because I can't stand to see him hurt over this. And it hurts me every time I see it happen to him. I really wish people could learn that they are a whole person as it is. They don't have to have another person to complete them.

What scares me right now is another family member of mine, a cousin, just got married last week. And it was no diffrent from my uncles... It looked promising. But there is no guarentee what so ever that they will stay... and I don't want to see him hurt.

The thing is, as each year goes by... the chances of you getting a marrage to last will become harder and harder. And one day it will probably almost completely unobtainable. Every year the devorce rate increases. I'm not throwing out a bias opinion, this is coming from events that are taking place... and it's just like cancer in the fact that there is no stopping it.

Now, I don't want this to become another debate thread that ends in flaming and mud-slinging. So the first mod that runs into this thread, please lock it.

I just had alot of these thoughts that I've had heavy on my heart lately and I'm glad I have you guys to hear me out. Thanks for listening to me... I just don't like to bottle some things up.

I guess I just want to stop people from getting hurt like this. So please think of yourself and ask if you really think you have to have marrage to be complete. You aren't alone, look to family and friends.

Again, thank you for your time and listening to a slightly emo Lantis...

Sorry to hear that Lantis.
Marriage usually ends up in a divorce these days. You have to be lucky to live a long life while being married to someone. I too hate to see someone get hurt by this. Even if they aren't a relative of mine.

Can-do, sir.