"You're what? How did that happen..?" 'Michael Herr' (Aloha Friday)

Renowned author Michael Herr is back guest-blogging on this awesome Aloha Friday talking about  the good ole days, marriage , procreation and living together...Enjoy!  Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/

ALOHA FRIDAY

May 4, 2012Ó

It's Aloha Friday.

You're what?  How did that happen?

Aloha folks.

I was ruminating in bed last night.  No, not fumigating!  Fumigating means killing the bedbugs . . . and means you got to lift the bed-covers and flap them around a bit.

Ruminating means thinking.  Which is what I was doing.

And I got to thinking about procreation.  How many of you out there got married and had a baby within your first year of marriage?  Show of hands please.  Now, if you're over 60, keep your hand up.  Everyone else, hands down.

Aha, I knew it.  Most over-60 couples did just that.  Got married, said "Fire the torpedoes, full speed ahead," and out popped a cute little baby before they got to their first anniversary.

Two reasons for that.  One, birth control pills were not as available back then.  And, two, most couples held off on having full sex until after they were married.  (lots of heavy petting though)  So they didn't talk about things such as birth control, or having kids.  Except in the most blissfully innocent way.  (white picket fence around a little house in the country with children playing in the backyard without getting dirty)

Actually, another reason for many Catholics was the Church's disapproval of all forms of birth control.  Except for coitus interruptus.  And that wasn't a very practical choice for two young people who were finally experiencing actual sex.  ("Okay, Tom, pull out."  "Sorry, Suzie, too late.")

So now, it seems to me that people wait longer to get married.  And frequently they live together first . . . and have sex.  But they practice better birth control.  (unless the woman is tired of waiting for a ring and decides to put more pressure on the man)

All of which means that fewer couples are celebrating their first anniversaries by bouncing a baby on their knees.

Good or bad?  I don't know.  Just a change in the way things are.

Okay folks, see you next week. 

check out Michael's website at http://www.michaelherr.com/ 

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