*Sigh* I'm Too Young For This

Salutations fellow people,

I heard a saying once (Yes! Once and only once!), and it went like this...

"You don't marry the girl, you marry the whole family".

I was stopped dead in my tracks. Not because I had never thought of having to take into account my future wife's family (let's call her..."R"), but because now that it was actually pushed to the front of my mind, it was putting a big spin on it. Think about it long and hard; when you marry a girl or a guy, you're not just joining with that one person, but you are becoming part of the family. Her/his parents are now yours as well, their siblings are now gonna be yours too, and you are now "one of the crowd". This isn't always the case (but I doubt anybody would argue when I say that it would be ideal), but having a great friendship with not just your spouse but his/her family is a true blessing. Who would want to marry into a family where they only get along well with one member? Sure, it's not always going to happen, but in the best-case scenario it will, 'cause God will bless the union if it's right.

Anyway, after I pondered this, I did something fun. I looked at all the girls I know pretty well and their familes, and thought to myself, "Could I marry into that family?". I didn't think about the girl as a seperate identity, but looked at the family as a whole. It was a fun excercise, and I found a few definite "No's", a couple of "I'm not sure as I don't know them all that well's" and only one "Yes".

It was a refreshing exercise I did in my head, looking around at my friends here and there and trying to picture myself in the future. A few things I thought up were pretty comical (well, I thought so) and I recommend you all go try and look at this as well. It's a pretty personal matter, so that's why I didn't retell my humorous anecdotes and who the various families were, but I'm sure you'll understand if you give it a shot too. Go for it, it's fun! And it's a really relaxing thought to know that whatever we can picture in our heads, God has got something far, far better planned for us. He may throw us some curveballs we ain't expecting, but it's gonna be good!

-END TRANSMISSION-

When Is Boy, Not A Boy? When He Turns Into A Corner!

Welcome!
As promised, this is a new post. As if you hadn't guessed already by the fact that the last post is now down the page somewhat. It's more of a questioning and opinionative post than anything else (like informative article, epository text or analytical essay). To begin, I must ask the question as old as time itself (time has been currently dated to Biblical times!)...

When does a boy become a man?
or for those of the female gender
When does a girl become a woman?

We all know that there is no sudden transition when you turn a certain age. We all know that some 10yr old kids are just as mature (or even more so) than a 28yr old. We all know that it has something to do with maturity and responsibility, but what exactly? When does a simple, easy-going little lad or lass become an adult. What makes a man, a man? What makes a woman, a woman? Some ideas to get you thinking and started:

> Not avoiding responsibility or seeking just to have some for the heck of it, but taking it as it comes.
> Assimilating with "older generations" and seeking to take part in "their activities".
> Taking on board attributes that are traditionally associated with grown-ups, like paying for own doctor's appointments, engaging in a "real" job, going to dinner parties, etc.
> Calling your superiors by their first names, like your friends' parents, elder people at church, teachers, bosses/managers, etc.
> Maturing (however the heck that can be defined).

Sorry this is a little ambiguous, but I poorly planned this post. Urgh. I'm gonna go finish talking like a pirate.
Argh!

PB

Insured By Smith & Wesson

Hello,
This is only a partially-ordained update (I have a better one in the works, it's about manhood/maturity), but this is news that cannot be held back any longer.

I am the proud owner of a foam dart shotgun, and it rules. Bought for $22.50 as a result of my 10% discount at work, I am having a mouthful of fun with it, as anybody who has been shot with it knows. I love it. His name's Earl. If you hear me say "I'm going Earlin'," you better watch out, lest you lose an eye. Harry and Carl are also now owners, buying the last two in the shop. There are but two rules.
#1. GEORGE MUST NEVER KNOW, otherwise we're all doomed.
#2. Enjoy Earl (At my discretion of course)!

I'm done here. Goodnight all.

Sean