Backup plan

Far be it from us at MEvBLOG to dole out marital advice to the Internet masses. However, we heard something interesting this morning when interviewing a source for a story on divorce that's running next Tuesday (save the date!).

Our source - a twice separated, now happily married, leader of seminars for divorced parents - said she believed our society is moving away from "'till death do us part," and towards a life of serial monogamy.

She might be right, and that's fine, though it's a bit of a bummer for those of us who are hopeless romantics. However, it does reinforce the wise mantra dating back to days of Boy Scouts past: "Be prepared."

Which means, in this day and age, it probably wouldn't hurt to have a backup plan. You know, where you set an age with a friend and if you're both not married by the time you reach it, you get hitched.

Or at least register for gifts.

We first happened upon the Marriage Backup Plan in high school, thought it was brilliant, and subsequently secured three of them. Then, in college, we secured another one. You can never be too prepared, right?

By the time the sun rose on our 30th year, we were sure we'd be married...to someone. Anyone.

Dawn recently came for that particular sunrise and here's the current status: two of our high school backups are happily married; our college backup is in a serious relationship; HOWEVER, our remaining backup turns 30 tomorrow!

So bust out the champagne because, according to our source from this morning, getting married for the sake of checking it off a list is totally cool. After all, since we're a society of serial monogamists, it'll be just one more relationship lily pad off of which we can simply hop to the next...right?

Still, we can't get over the notion that everyone has the potential for long-lasting happiness with one person, no matter how out-dated or fairytale-ish it seems. Make fun of us if you'd like, but we couldn't be happier that 75 percent of our backups have found true love.

And as for our fourth and final backup, we're confident she'll find the same happiness as the others, though it will probably be with someone else. Which is fine.

Honestly, she's too good for us anyway.

However, we're definitely still registering for presents. Because you're never too old - or too single - to get a free blender.