Of Mice and Moors

Romeo and Juliet - star crossed lovers - destined for destruction and misery...no Cinderella tale for them.  And I begin contemplate Disney versus Shakespeare.

Both Juliet and Cinderella were high born, and both were banned from their love.  Romeo from perhaps the other side of the tracks or the opposing palace, depending on whose interpretation you ascribe, and Prince Charming, ruler of the kingdom.  Why does Cinderella live happily ever after, but Juliet suffer death and pain?  Is Disney to blame for our perpetual belief that it will all work out in the end or that we will find gold at the end of the rainbow?  Was Shakespeare the realist that kept the population in check from run-away fantasies and behavior? 

The comparisons and contradictions zip around behind my eyes.  I'm not able to focus...so I wonder...am I to be Juliet or Cinderella.

I always tell my husband that if it's not worth fighting for it isn't worth anything at all, and I believe we are worth fighting for.  Then he replies that he doesn't believe in fighting for anything, you should just walk away - this coming from a man with some anger issues that have been a source of legal trouble for him in the past - does he even know who he is.  There in lies the fundamental difference in our foundations.  By nature I am a peacemaker, but when it comes to something I believe in my battle gear comes out.  Perhaps I should look to our modern love stories as well if I am going to blame our books and movies on our perceptions...in today's world we always see the guy fighting to win over his lady.  We consider this chivalrous and manly and honorable because those that don't always lose.  We say this is romance and that is what it's all about.  So again we have the venus versus mars syndrome.

It takes 2 to make any relationship work, but not 50/50.  A wise person once explained to me that a relationship is 70/30...at any time one person is pulling 70 and the other 30, then at another time it is reversed.  So why then do we perpetually expect 50/50...come on now...this has nothing to do with equality.  So when trying to maintain the relationship and survive the hurdles life throws does someone throw in the towel instead of pulling their 70 (or 30) percent of the current burden.  We all need a hand at some point...and aren't you supposed to be able to rely on your better half?

I'm so tired of the lemons....I hate lemonade.  I don't really feel I have the right to complain since there are others far worse off than I and with situations out of a nightmare instead of daily life dredgery.  I will allow myself the disappointment and saddness though...I am human.  Time to eat an apple or prick my finger or something like that....I'm keeping away from the damned spots because they never end well.