Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Marriage: Word Counters

 

Word Counters, a monthly multiblogger writing challenge | run by and graphic property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #bloggingchallenge #MyGraphics


Counting my words again. 

Today my fellow Word Counters and I are sharing our monthly group post. Each month one group member picks  a number between 12 and 50. All participating bloggers are then challenged to write something (or a few somethings, as the case may be) using that exact number of words. Today we all share what we came up with. 






 This month's number is 31. 
It was chosen by Diane of On the Border!

As I've been doing in these Word Counters posts, I've chosen a theme and am using my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I've chosen the theme Marriage
 
~ I don't unconditionally support the construct of marriage. Those who've been a friend of this blog for a while know I wrote Tie Not the Knot about it years ago.

~ It's not that I think people shouldn't be able to get married, I'm not at all proposing we deny marriage to those who want to make that legal and spiritual commitment. 
 
~ But marriage can be a decision made due to familial, religious, legal pressure, or just too soon. The result is misery or divorce. Marriages that end in divorce are forty percent.
 
~ For a decision this monumental, there shouldn't be outside pressure attached. I also believe it's important that couples are able to function on all levels in our society without being married. 
 
~ Because I do know that not all people can be monogamous. For some, relationships are an ongoing process. For them, I'm glad that the societal pressure to be married has eased.
 
~ My consideration of the topic started before gay marriage had become legal. Discrimination, in all of its forms infuriates me. Marriage needs to be a choice, for everyone or no one.
 
~ There are legal benefits attached to marriage that need to be addressed for those who make a different choice, but many of those benefits can be dealt with through the courts.

~ But there are also financial (like social security of a spouse) and medical (being on a spouse's medical insurance) that still need to be made accessible to partners who aren't married.
 
Creamsicle Bundt Cake, orange and vanilla flavors come together in this cake reminiscent of a summertime treat. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake
Creamsicle Bundt Cake 
Creamsicle Bundt Cake, orange and vanilla flavors come together in this cake reminiscent of a summertime treat. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake
 
 
~ When Hubs proposed, I wasn't sure. Religion was an issue, and we were already living together. At the time though, it was still a stigma for children to have unmarried parents.  

~ We moved to the Midwest, and the joke was on me, I was infertile. We were fortunate to find a reproductive endocrinologist, be successful with in vitro, and to be together.
 
~ I should mention that I baked a cake today. I also planned a special dinner, bought a card, and wine. Because some people can and should be married. Happy Anniversary, Hubs. 


Here are links to the other Word Counters posts:


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Creamsicle Bundt Cake    
                                              ©www.BakingInATornado.com


Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup orange juice, divided
3 TBSP powdered French vanilla creamer, divided
1 box (3 oz) jello mix, divided
1 cup vanilla frosting (your own or canned)
1 (15.25) box white cake mix
3 eggs
1 (5.3 oz) vanilla Greek yogurt 
1/4 cup milk

Directions:
*NOTE: It actually works out best if you do this step ahead (even the day before):
Bring 1/4 cup orange juice just to boiling. Add 1 TBSP of the French vanilla creamer and 1 TBSP of the orange jello mix. Stir until dissolved. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Whisk in the vanilla frosting, place in the freezer for 15 minutes, whisk again, then refrigerate.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan.
*Beat the cake mix, eggs, yogurt, milk, remaining 3/4 cup orange juice, remaining 2 TBSP powdered French vanilla creamer, and the remaining orange jello mix. 
*Pour evenly into the prepared pan and bake for about 35 minutes, just until the center springs back to the touch. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before running a knife around the edges and removing from the pan. Cool completely.
*Once the cake is completely cooled, remove the frosting from the refrigerator, whisk again, and drizzle over the top and down the sides of the cake.

19 comments:

  1. I broke it off, I knew it was wrong. His mother came to me and begged, not him, his mother. I still caved and at 18, I married, 20 I became a mother and at 23 a single mother. My bright spot, my son and at 26 I met and married the love of my life. He adopted my son and raised him as his own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fascinating, Donna, that you lived both sides of the equation. I'm so glad the bad was short and the good was long.

      Delete
  2. When I was growing up, it's just what you did. I never questioned. At 20, I married whom I thought was the love of my life.
    We were in the lucky minority. It turns out he WAS the love of my life. We've been very happy.
    But marriage isn't for everyone. I've definitely observed that firsthand! And I believe that if I have the right to criticize someone for the choices they make in this world, then they have the same right. I don't tell them who to love. They don't tell me. I don't tell them who (or even if) to marry. They don't tell me. Just accept people with all their fascinating quirks. And I DO mean fascinating! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very well said, Diane. We need to have the freedom to do what's best for us, and the best way to ensure that is to support others as they choose what's best for them.

      Delete
  3. I grew up in the age of "shotgun weddings" and sometimes the expression was literal. Divorce was severely frowned upon, too, and it was difficult to get one, at least in New York. Years ago I worked with a woman who got pregnant at age 15, was forced to marry the (just as young) father, and finally, after much suffering, was able to get a divorce. Not far from where I live now was a home for unwed mothers, another construct that today's generation of young ones don't have to be concerned with, and I'm happy that shotgun weddings and impossible to get divorces are a thing of the past - I can only hope. Because you never know. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My parents were divorced and it was still on the borderline of being a stigma. I could never understand why society wanted people to be miserable instead of making a change. I could never understand why society thought children were better served in a household where the adults were unhappy and didn't get along. I'm so glad things are changing.

      Delete
  4. It's a complicated issue, but yes, marriage is not for everyone. #2 Son found that out the hard way. He's just turned 25 last month, and already has learned that lesson.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so sorry he was in a situation that didn't work out. I hope he finds happiness, in another marriage or not.

      Delete
  5. What a great topic for a special day. Happy anniversary!

    (and thanks for sharing a little bit of your family backstory.)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I j ust buried my Mum with Dad they were married 60yrs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, Jo-Anne, I'm glad they had each other for so long, and I'm so sorry for your loss.

      Delete
  7. Happy anniversary.

    Also, that cake looks so amazing that I'd divorce my hubs for a chance to have a bite! lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, if you divorce your Hubs, who will bake the cake for you?

      Delete
    2. I'll just move in with you. lol

      Delete
  8. I loved this discussion on marriage. this topic always fascinates me and I'm glad you can be authentic. I also liked hearing about your own decision.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we all need to be less worried about others and more focused on being authentic.

      Delete
  9. All I know is I'm on year number 30 in my marriage and so far so good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, but you're only in this happy one because you didn't get stuck forever in the first one.

      Delete

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