The Rewards Can Be Astounding

I don't claim to be a modern Solomon with words of wisdom dropping from my pen, but I feel that perhaps, along the way, during my lengthy years, I may have learned a few helpful hints for the betterment of my fellow beings.

In my youthful years, as I look back, there were no divorces or even "separations" among my acquaintances. People may not have had ideal marriages, but at least they stayed together permanently. Some really enjoyed a truly devoted association, seeming to know the blessings of real love and companionship.

But if things did not go smoothly in their relationship, the lady seemed to feel that basically she was the housewife (or housekeeper, really) and the mother, and should be content with her lot in life. I don't believe there were marriage counselors around—and besides, one did not discuss such intimate situations with anyone. It was just taboo! And so the marriage just continued without the blessings and intimacy necessary to conjugal happiness.

Then along came WWII. Men were needed for military service, but factories needed workers to manufacture military supplies as well as other important goods. Since the usual (male) employees were not available at the time, along came Rosie the Riveter. Women found great satisfaction in being, at last, needed in the world of commerce. And along with it came a paycheck—their own money! Women have been a vital part of the business world ever since. They also began to share confidences with fellow "Rosies" and often compared personal problems confidentially with each other. That must be when the female world realized the need for marriage counselors.

Because of the lack of romance in their lives, these forlorn ladies took up the delightful pastime of reading paperback romance novels. Wow! They saw what was missing in their home life and fantasized over the descriptive love scenes. (And today, those novels can be very explicit.)

This all boils down to the thought that men should be reading those love stories. They would soon realize what to do about their boring married life. If husbands read a few of today's romances, then took them to heart, so to speak, the divorce rate would drop dramatically. (In one word, the answer is foreplay.) Please forgive me for being blunt, but it's a fact—life can be beautiful again. Whatcha say, guys? Read! It can't hurt, and the rewards can be astounding.