Saturday, October 14, 2006

Definitions of Love



A woman wants a man with washboard abs, who dresses well, who smells good, who tells her she's beautiful, who makes her laugh, who fixes the cars and the lawns and always knows the right thing to say.

A woman wants a man who's strong, who's sensitive, who earns money but is often home to take care of her, to take care of the kids. A woman wants a man who takes her places, who has sex when she wants it and not when she doesn't. A woman wants a man to tell her it'll be okay, to put the seat down, to leave his shoes at the door, to play with the kids, to ride a motorcycle and look good in a leather jacket, to paint the living room and expand the kitchen.

A woman wants a man who won't complain when she spends too much, who won't be upset when she's out with the girls, flirting with other guys (he's secure after all), who doesn't flirt with other women. A woman wants a man who lives close by, who lives far away, who won't hit her, and if he does, apologizes and says he'll never do it again (and she'll believe him). A woman wants a man who will cheat on her (if he's sexy enough for others, he's sexy enough for me), at least she'll stay with him. A woman wants a man who will stay with her if she cheats on him. A woman wants a man who will never cheat on her. A woman wants a man who's stronger, kinder, harder, softer, nicer, more decisive, less authoritative, less stubborn, more like a dog, less like a dog, who likes to kiss but always has good breath. A woman wants a man to tell her what he's thinking. A woman wants a man to not talk so much.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's the paradox!

I feel so confused and I hope it's not because I am hormonal. Sometimes I feel like a woman.

NOT! Women want men to feel like the women... that way we can understand them. Doesn't that then mean we are gay?

I don't know... now I am so confused.

(...spoken just like a woman.)
(p.s. - kidding...)

Cliff said...

This is a paradoxical piece. Hopefully it will generate some discussion, and thought.

I guess the origins for it come from a sense of disillusionment in relationships with women. I feel trapped in the midst of them, feeling like something is not enough. Ironically, I think a lot of men feel this way. A lot of women feel this way too.

There's a chasm between men and women and the bridges between us that connect the two cliff faces seem rusty and rickety. When we build these bridges, they last today, but tomorrow the tide may come in. It's strange that the things we want are similar, and the ways we communicate what we want are so far apart. Sometimes we're afraid of stepping on that bridge. Other bridges have crumbled beneath our feet, while others leave us dangling, hanging on the side, trying to crawl our way back to solid footing.

I still believe in building makeshift bridges though, even if the original blog doesn't seem like it. Sometimes we step out, and the other person steps out, and it's a delicate, tentative dance. Sometimes we meet each other halfway before we have to return to where we started.

Anonymous said...

I was light hearted with my original comment. I can see that this is truly a paradox for you... well, it is just a paradox for men.

I ask myself if it doesn't go back to the Garden? Is it the classical struggle of woman wanting more and mnipulating man to get it? Is that flesh nature of woman?

I agree that any relationship, whether a friendship, a dating, or a marriage is a delicate balance and continual compromise of wants, desires, and needs of two people. It's unfortunate that the whole sex thing that can either build up or tear down a relationship between a man or a woman. Probably a good reason not to get physically involved with someone until after you are married. Even if you wait, it's the tension that builds up.

For any relationship to grow at an equal pace as not tip the scales, there must be communication. There also must be faith in the other person that the parts of us we share will not later be aired out in front of others. That the intimacy of friendship or relationship will be protected.

I wish that relationships, at any level, weren't a gamble. Unfortunately, not everyone has developed the capacity to be trustworthy or reverent to a friend, significant other, or spouse. So... we roll the dice...

Enemy of the Republic said...

This frightens me. It is your piece, so you are entitled to your view, but you are dabbling with both the healthy and unhealthy elements that coexist in ourselves--in your case, the female. I don't know what prompted this, but I see this as an angry entry. We've had this conversation, I believe: I wouldn't know how to do one of those online ads for a man because everything I may think I want, will turn out to be false. My only criteria is that he is someone I can talk to and can listen to me. He too must feel that same freedom. I can safely say that even in our worst times, my husband and I could do that, but we found as time went on that we didn't like what the other was saying.

I don't deny that women like that exist, but some of it is downright cynical. Women come on to my husband all the time; one even goes to my church and she tried to get him in the bedroom while she was working. However, to be fair to her, once she realized he was married, she stopped and I act as though I know nothing because she was lonely, not trying to tempt him into adultery. I could rewrite this and substitute "men" and add and subtract a few attributes of my own, but wouldn't you feel slightly demeaned, slightly overlooked as a human being and seen more as a thing? I realize that when men and women are single, it can be ugly: I never thought I'd marry because I could not do what you are describing here, say " he has to be like this." That was because I had known love and I knew its mystery; we don't choose who we love, but we do choose who we marry or stay with. I am sorry, Cliff, for your anger and pain--I don't say that lightly. But should I assume all men are rapists? I have men writing to me know asking me if I think that they are rapists, not because of what I wrote but because they are scared it exists in all of them. I couldn't answer that question any more than I could explain advanced calculus. I hope I have been respectful in my response. I realize that both genders are guilty of generalizing, but it can be a dangerous practice.

Anonymous said...

Boy and I was going to just make a flippid comment... then I read Enemy!

I have to agree with bits of what she said... but when I read it I felt question as much as anger...

There were times I wanted one thing in a man and times I wanted others. I think, in the end you weigh the good and the bad and the mate that has more good than bad is the winner. Its timimg, chemistry and maturity.

NOT THAT I HAVE THE ANSWERS!!! TO BE SURE!!!!!

Interesting post. I may link it and write about the topic some more if thats ok

Julie said...

God is continually pursuing us. He wants us to look to Him as the perfect being that He is. We can not find that in human realionships. Only He can fufill all of those needs. Once we realize that, our human relationships can sometimes just fall into place.

Anonymous said...

not anti woman at all... just tainted perhaps.

Women (ok... at least ME) are fickle. I want one thing then totally want another Its hard to actually know myself how I will react none the less expect someone else to... with that being said, I expect my spouse to KNOW what I take in my coffee... what my favorite fragrance is... all that stuff and when he doesnt (and that is pretty much all the time) I get mad! It seems a terrible paradox! I may change from splenda to equal or from Calvin to Moschino... on a dime, but I expect that he will follow at least the most recent of the bunch... just out of interest... idk perhaps we should all be homosexual. It would probably make things easier all around (ok perhaps not to have kids or fulfilling sex lol... details details lol) Ok that is definitely more than you wanted to hear! anyway... Happy Wed! Kate

PS No spell check and no time to review so soooooooooooooooooorry!

Anonymous said...

ok... tried to figure out WHICH bit of YOUR blog you meant! lol... I guess here and later. lmao... I am the stay at home candy giver with not too many trick or treators about... hence why I am here! lol cheers! K