Page 166 - The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

many interests they held in common. They seemed to
possess all the commonalities that are supposed to assure
fewer conflicts in marriage.
They began dating in their senior year in high school.
They attended separate colleges but managed to see each
other at least once a month and sometimes more often. By
the end of their freshman year, they were convinced that
they were “meant for each other.” They both agreed,
however, to finish college before marriage. For the next
three years, they enjoyed an idyllic dating relationship. One
weekend, he would visit her campus; the following
weekend, she would visit his campus; the third weekend,
they would go home to visit the folks but spend most of the
weekend with each other. The fourth weekend of each
month, they agreed not to see each other, thus giving each
of them freedom to develop individual interests. Except for
special events such as birthdays, they consistently followed
that schedule. Three weeks after he received his degree in
business and she a degree in sociology, they were
married. Two months later, they moved to Florida where
Pete had been offered a good job. They were two thousand
miles from their nearest relative. They could enjoy a
“honeymoon” forever.
The first three months were exciting—moving, finding a
new apartment, enjoying life together. The only conflict they
could remember was over washing dishes. Pete thought he
had a more efficient way to complete that chore. Patsy,
however, was not open to his idea. Eventually, they had