Love And Marriage

The Kid and his younger cousin offered contrasting approaches to dealing with the opposite gender over the weekend. As usual, The Kid showed himself to be wiser than his years, an example to his worshipful cousins and an inspiration to us all.

The cousin, a first-grader and knowing in the ways of the world, was on the receiving end of a Grandma quiz on his love life. Specifically, (we'll call him) Tino squirmed when asked about little Carmella. "We breaked up," he confessed. "She was always complaining." A good enough reason, I suppose, but she was only the latest in a long line of heart-breaked young ladies. Tino goes through them like Jay Leno through cars, and the newest model in the showroom is Angelita.

Sooner, rather than later, they all turn out to have flaws beyond repair - but there is always another hopeful waiting in the wings. The Kid intuitively figured out early that talking through problems is a good way to right wrongs, clarify misunderstandings, right the ship in the tunnel of love, and keep the one in the lot who may turn out to be the keeper.

He and Ripley have had a fair amount of practice. Maybe as a result, or perhaps because of surpassing charm on both sides, they exchanged valentines - again- with smiles that lit up the room.

So, where are you in your relationships with customers, suppliers, and service providers? Breaked up, again? Still crazy after all these years? Are you looking for the next warm, brief relationship? Or, are you working to make what you have the best that it can be?

How do you stack up against The Kid?