What A Poor Reception.

I have just realised that television is terrible for my creative Chi, in particular that BOGOFF advert for windows. It is the Yoko Ono to my flow. I feel like Coleridge writing Kubla Khan, without the opiates and laziness.

So, recently a friend of mine got married. Everyone is getting married at the minute, making me feel like a spinster at the tender age of twenty-two. Sadly I don't fit the stereotype due to my allergy to cats. Another thing about all of these weddings, I'm never invited to them. Boo. Even Tom didnt invite me, which is probably for the best considering even his great friends snickered cruelly at the question "Does anyone have a reason for these two not to be wed? Speak now or forever hold your peace." The thing is, a lot of them are not a fan of his recently made honest woman. After many rumours abounding about her secretly coming off the pill to trap him into marriage, trying it on with his close friend (who looks a bit like Richard Hammond, a strange sex symbol for many women) and being found in bed with said friend, and also him not allowed to go out without her, it became difficult for Tom's friends to warm to the supposed love of his life.

At the reception was a bizarre oppressive atmosphere which mirrored the muggy weather (to sound like a J.G Ballard novel). I arrived with my twin sister Gemma, her fiance James and their 15 month old son and I stayed with them for the evening, not feeling comfortable enough to mingle. Reason number one for this was the lightly flickered sneers and slightly slitted eyes from the women at the sight of my dress; a long, black, clinging number that fell to the floor yet had a slit that reached halfway up my thigh. At least I wasn't wearing a short white mini-dress like one self absorbed girl, a huge faux pas in the wedding rules.

Reason number two was the brides distance towards me and my next of kin. We got a brief "Hello" upon our arrival as she raced to the toilets but for the rest of the evening she would try to pass us, with her head down and her feet racing. This, I was told, was probably her insecurities about Tom's crush on me in college a mere FIVE YEARS AGO. Hardly the same situation as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston is it? For a start, as nice as he is, my friend is no Brad Pitt and even if he was I doubt I would be interested. Out of all of them I'd probably take Jennifer. That's not a metaphor for me finding Tom's wife attractive, but is my own opinion that Jennifer seems a nice, witty, charming and attractive woman with few emotional hang-ups. Anyway, the overall point is that I am not a man eater or man stealer, especially on the couple's wedding day!

This all brings me to the question "Why are so many of my school and college friends getting married so quickly?" The most recent additions into the land of wedded bliss had only known each other a couple of years and with a background so fractured with insecurities I wonder why did they do it? My sister and I have noted this couples severe lack of understanding of each others humour, with the younger wife appearing frustrated with her husbands jokes and puns. If you don't have laughs to pull you through the hard times what else is there?

My sister has been with her fiance for eight years, since they were both in high school. Through their long relationship they have never broken up or got with other people, despite some nasty rows. They know and accept each others faults, are fiercely loyal to one another, bicker frequently so issues rarely build up and have a similar humour that can change a growing feud into laughter. Their son was wanted by both of them and is well provided for thanks to James's career in I.T. Nothing in their relationship or wedding plans has been rushed, they are together out of love for one another and wanting to have a life together. In this day and age their love is rare. It is not for me to say that my friend married for the wrong reasons and if he is happy I am happy for him but if I personally had to choose between the tortoise or the hare I'd take the tortoise every time.