The Best Relationship Advice You Will Ever Receive
A Symbol of Love?
To the ordinary eye, the drab beige container pictured here looks just as ordinary. It is a simple Rubbermaid container that, according to the bottom, is a 21 cup or 5.0 Liter capacity Servin’ Saver ™. Nothing more, nothing less, or so it seems.
I’m not sure that Rubbermaid even makes one like this anymore. I’ve owned mine for over 24 years. I own it because my long ago ex-husband owned it when I married him back in 1986. It is the only material item that I still own that we had while we were married. Many people might think I hold on to it for sentimental reasons, because I just cannot let go and it is the one tangible item that I have left of him. They would be wrong.
But Look What I Got!
Except for the baby -- and a pile of debts that I ultimately got stuck with -- it was the only thing that I got out of the divorce way back in 1988. It serves as a great reminder to me; it is a lesson that I have tried to pass on to my children and anyone else’s children who would listen: Don't marry a man whose best possession is a 21 cup Servin' Saver Rubbermaid container.
Why would a young woman consider marrying a man who had nothing? I know why I did. I was pregnant with his child. She will be 24 this year. Still, that was NOT a good reason to marry him. Don’t lecture me about birth control….it was 24 years ago and believe me, I learned my lesson the hard way.
The point of it all is that all of you young women out there need to think a little more about what who you are hanging with. Look around your guy’s place. Does he even have a place? Does he own anything? Is it a beige Rubbermaid Servin’ Saver container? If so, run!
Don't Kid Yourself
It is unbelievable how many times I have heard from one of my friends, my daughters or their friends, that “I’m just going out with him, I’m not marrying him. “ Well, guess what? You never know. The man you are sleeping with may end up being the father of your child -- and, ultimately, the grandfather of your grandchildren. Frankly, my ex is no better at being a grandfather than he was as a father or husband. What can one expect of a man who, in his late thirties, had nothing of value except a Rubbermaid container?
He is still a drunk and I’m still using that Rubbermaid container. I think of him every now and again when I lift the lid off to get the dog food out for Ruggles, my little Yorkie/Maltese mix. That container has been keeping Ruggle’s food fresh for almost 14 years now. Considering that he will only eat dog food if he is actually starving, a container that keeps food fresh works out perfectly for us.
