The true "New Moon"

The second movie of the Twilight series, New Moon, was released this weekend. Millions around the world went to see it. Critics panned the movie; the series in fact. The vast majority of the moviegoers loved it.

I've been pondering just what is it that keeps so many people, rather women ranging in age from 10 through 99, so entranced with the books and the movies. I have to admit that I, too, can be counted among those millions. And I've come up with a theory. One that the more I consider it, the more I really do believe is fact - at least for me.

The Twilight series is an otherworldly take of Shakespeare's tragic love story Romeo and Juliet. Edward is Romeo, the prince of Vampires while Bella is Juliet, the princess of Humans. Just by their very nature they are doomed in their love. Vampires and Humans are, and always have been, mortal enemies. Yet they have a love that bridges the taboos of their respective worlds. Why is that? My take? They are soul mates - which in and of itself, answers the question that meanders throught the series; do vampires have souls? Well, they've got to! Edward is bound by something even more powerful than the vampire and human worlds can break, and that is his soul can only be completed with his perfect mate - Bella. And Bella is human. Which funnily enough, answers a very human, and age old, question, do humans have souls? Again, they've got to! Because Bella can only be completed - whole - when she is with Edward.

The difference between the Twilight series and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is that Edward and Bella's ending is happy. They manage to bridge the chasm separating them and their worlds, and in the process, they merge the worlds together (let's not argue that point when we read the 4th book of the series and find out that biworldly folks have existed for eons).

As we all know, Romeo and Juliet is one of the most romantic stories in existence. And my I be bold enough to say that the Twilight series ranks among them. Women love romance, and Twilight is filled with it. And that is why I think the books and the movies are so popular. They fill a feminine need to be loved unconditionally, protected unconditionally, wanted (at all times) unconditionally, protected unconditionally.

In the real world, our significant others love us, but it's just not the same.

• When we have fights it's for less noble selfish reasons. Edward's reasons for getting angry at Bella are because she won't keep herself out of harm's way. In my world, my husband gets angry at me for forgetting to pay a bill.
• We get tired of being with our significant others - they get on our nerves. Bella and Edward can't get enough of being in each other's presence. They never tire of just being together for the sake of being together.
• Occasionally, we tell each other we love each other, even when we don't mean it. Edward and Bella mean it when they say it - always.
• Often, we are on our own when life gets difficult. When I'm shopping and I'm confronted by a difficult situation, my husband isn't going to drop everything to come to my rescue. Edward lives to rescue Bella. She is is first and only agenda.

In short, Edward's and Bella's relation is the relationship many, of not all women, long for. A man (or woman) to put me and my happiness at the zenith of his (or her) existence.  Were I to have a man like that loving me, you betcha I'd be loving him back just as passionately!

But instead, I am married to a man who puts softball above my needs and wants. That said, I seriously doubt he's my soul mate. Doubt? Know! Is there a soul mate somewhere in the world for me? I hope so! A love even fractionally similar to that of the fictional characters Edward and Bella is worth pursuing. And pursuing I am!

Feeling Peckish?

Aahhh, it's one of those years. You have sucky relationship years, you have great ones. You have yucky money years, you have great ones. And then you have those years that everything is pretty much on an even keel. Well, this year is not one of those! I think it's a sucky year for relationships and health issues.



First the health issues. About 5 weeks ago a coworker didn't show, didn't call in, nothing. We all know she lives alone. I'd been trying to mentor her, so I thought I'd check up on her. Well, I call and no answer. I try again and I get her but she sounds really bad. So, I tell her get ready cause I'm taking her to the doctor. Long story short, she almost bled out; they had to transfuse her with 7 units of blood. She almost died! Longer story short, Stage III Uterine cancer, spread to a couple lymph nodes and intestine. Lots happened in the past 5 weeks - moved her to an apartment, sold her house, became her emotional surrogate mother, helped her get started with chemo/radiation. Takes a lot of time, energy, self. Then, last week, another coworker had emergency surgery for an intestinal obstruction. She'll be out for at least 6 weeks herself. Yikes!



As for myself, a few years back doctors noticed I have a heart murmur. Up to now I haven't really stressed about it. I just take my antibiotics when I go to the dentist, etc. Well, at a recent gyn annual, it was very apparent to the nurse practitioner (whereas before it was faint if heard at all). So, now I get to go for a wellness checkup (which I belatedly realized I should be doing in conjunction with my annual gyn appt). Lovely. Now I'm nervous.



As relationships go. Hubby and I have hit a low spot. I don't think it's as low as some we've had below, but it's the lowest we've had for a few years. How would you like it if your husband said you were a strange one on your 14th wedding anniversary and then three days later tells you you're not his soulmate but he'll stick with you till his soulmate comes along. On the one side, it's good he feels comfortable expressing himself. On the other side, why the hell would he say that unless he's getting distracted? And, how do you respond to something like that? I have to admit that he probably isn't my soul mate. My first love was likely my soul mate, but he was totally messed up. But why say it? And now? It does wonders for one's ego. And it keeps me wondering. I'd love to ask him about it, but he's not the type of person who will talk that sort of stuff up. Matter of fact, he pretty much sucks at communication. And he admits it. I have learned to take what I can get and tiptoe around the rest.



But I shouldn't have to tiptoe around the rest. I do know that having children complicates the matter immensely. Would we still be together if we didn't have children? Probably not. Are we staying together just because of the children? I don't think so. I think two people who aren't soulmates can be together and work together and eventually become each other's soulmate. It all depends on how each partner approaches the relationship and what and how far each person can or is willing to work out with the other. So, I'd like to think that though we may not be each other's soulmate, we can become each other's soulmate. It just depends on how willing each of us is to work toward a common goal.