In France, any husband who can afford it has a mistress. Any wife who can arrange it has a lover. Everyone knows about it. No one cares. These are often lifelong relationships. Culturally different than the US but not as alien as Muslim polygamy.
Why shouldn't a man have two mistresses and no wife? A woman have two lovers and no husband?
In the United States we have begun to recognize a limited form of marriage called a domestic partnership. Like marriage a domestic partnership is a collection of rights and obligations. It is illegal to have more than one wife or husband. Is it illegal to have more than one domestic partner? Maybe it shouldn't be?
It's amazing how many words you can use to say you want to get laid and remain free to get laid by someone else.
ReplyDeleteI am right. Permanent relationships rarely are.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. I still want to get laid.
Yes, many of us want to get laid (even many women, such as myself). And many of us want to have multiple sex partners, and yet there is still the desire to be deeply loved. But perhaps there can be more than one who loves us deeply, and we can love more than one.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is about sex, but it is also about being known and valued and accepted for who we are.
Loving is an overflowing wellspring. The capacity to love grows with loving. There is no contradiction between deeply loving one and deeply loving another.
ReplyDeleteYou said it very well, Jack. "The capacity to love grows with loving." How very true. When we take a plunge and risk rejection by opening our hearts, most of the time we are rewarded way beyond our expectations.
ReplyDelete