Is Prison Better Than Marriage?

One man thinks so.
I read an article the other day.
A seventy-year old, Kansas City man walked into a bank and handed a note to a Teller that read: ” I have a gun, give me money.”
After the Teller proceeded to hand over cash, the man, instead of running, sat down with his loot and told the security guard to arrest him.
“I’d rather go to prison than go home and live with my wife!” he said.
Whaaaaaaat?
It’s Funny
Because it’s true.
Because anyone who’s honest, who’s been married long enough can relate to what this guy was going through.
I can’t say I’m willing to test out his theory, but I can see how prison might not be so bad sometimes.
Oddly, the thought of it gives me a great sense of security.
I’d love three square meals a day and someone making my decisions for me.
I’m sure my husband would enjoy that too, along with some peace and quiet.
Marriage is Tough
On both people.
Are there days I feel like escaping and getting into my car and driving to nowhere?
Yep – usually in the winter when I have to shovel my way out of the house.
And I’m sure there are days when my husband would rather get his teeth scraped than come home to me and our two prepubescent teenage boys.
But I have to believe that the worst day in marriage is better than the best day in prison because despite feeling trapped at times, I still have the freedom to choose.
To change my worse into better, my poorer into richer, and my sickness into health.
It’s because I’m not imprisoned that I have the freedom to choose, to ask for help, and to work with a spouse who’s willing to work with me in good times and bad.
That gives me a greater capacity to live my best life.
So here’s to admitting and accepting that marriage is tough.
Life is tough and bank robbery is never the answer, but it’s always an option.
Until next time,
Cheers.
####
Too true Mo. It’s a tough road to hoe, but luckily I’ve got Sue at home so that feeling seldom takes hold for long. Thanks for the reminder – I’ll keep working, you keep writing. ????????????????
Peter! Thanks so much for commenting! We are lucky, aren’t we? (That’s rhetorical, of course! Haaaaa)
Having a Mom with Alzheimer’s, I can tell you she’s in her own prison, but has a loving partner beside her. I asked my Dad ‘How are you handling it?’ He didn’t hesitate to repeat his vows of ‘in sickness or in health.’ And on some deeper level, I’m hoping that she can still know she’s loved.
As for me, sometimes my hair gets curlier when I’m getting mad at my hubby, but know that it will relax sooner rather than later.
What a beautiful an amazing testament to their love and commitment to marriage, Karyn! I feel so inspired by it, and by them.
On a deeper level, I believe that once we are loved – in the way your dad loves your mom – our soul knows that energy forever because it – Absolute Love – doesn’t belong to the world, it belongs to the senses… Consciously or unconsciously, willingly or unwillingly, verbally or nonverbally, he can’t help loving her and she can’t help loving him back. It’s who they are and who they’ve been; she will always know that – that she’s loved – she can feel it!
I’ll keep them in my prayers.
And, your hair is always curly!!!!! Haaaaaa
key word is Patience.
Aint that the truth! 🙂 xoxo
I love reading these weekly posts ????
So great to hear. Thanks, Janet. I really appreciate it. 🙂
You provoked a genuine chuckle with your final sentence. Not a lol, but a chuckle out loud. I suppose we can refer to that as a col.
After watching James Cagney in a couple of the old Warner Bros. prison movies, I excluded the grey bar hotel from my life options.
Whether in marriage or bachlorhood, there really is no escaping the rough spots, the frustrations, and the worries that life provides to us all. All we can do is roll with the punches.
I cannot look with favor upon prison until I can recall how Cagney escaped in the classic “White Heat” of 1950.” Just in case I wanted to leave. “I made it Ma…top of the world Ma, top of the world.”
So glad this made you COL. I had that too thinking about Jimmy Cagney’s “top of the world Ma.” Thanks for the great reminder!
Wow! Provocative and edgy but compassionate view. Nicely succinct too. I just realized that single life did not exempt me from feeling trapped too sometimes. There are lots of jails we put ourselves in. But Marriage is a choice and it is great to be reminded of that. Thank you.
Thanks, Jerry. As a writer, I know you’ll appreciate it when I tell you that this was initially closer to 2000 words!!! I mean there’s so much to write about relationships, so I just kept rewriting – ugh, not easy! LOL I also know you understand on a much deeper level – the bondage of self. 🙂 Thanks for reading and writing in.
Marriage is a wonderful, life- fulfilling, time-honored tradition I am shocked and offended at any suggestion otherwise (my wife is making me type this and watches me constantly; not allowed to leave the panic room without her permission)
What’s the address of that bank?
HAAAAAAAAAAAAA I haven’t laughed this hard since – well, definitely before the sentencing and Andy said he’ll meet you at the bank. WHATever. Thanks for the laugh, Vince. We both needed it.
Great article!!
Thanks, Sue. I know you can relate. 🙂 lololol
Mo- thanks for the laughs and the chuckles that will continue in my head…and the wise words per usual!! Love you! ❤️????❤️????❤️
Thanks, Jen!!!! Always happy to know someone’s laughin’ – it makes me laugh too! We got this, right? 🙂
Great stuff!!!!love the pic
Thank YOU. At least the water wasn’t cold that day.