Tiers of Love

That's right, Tiers, not Tears.

Tier 1: Two people meet, are sold on love before they are sold on each other. They get married, get to know each other and realize that they actually don't like each other and divorce. (If 50% of marriages end in divorce, then I'd say approximately 50% of the people have this type of relationship).

Tier 2: Two people meet and have a solid companionship. Sometimes they are totally in love with each other, sometimes they are not. Their feeling of connectedness throughout the relationship ebs and flows. They function well together, could raise a family, but you rarely see them all googly eyed over each other. They love each other all the time, but aren't always in love with each other. However, on a really low trough in the relationship, they might decide to divorce. (I'd say that about 45% of marriages are like this).

Tier 3: Two people meet and are in love, and stay IN LOVE. They greet each other like the first time every time. They might even eb and flow a bit; however, it's not for prolonged period of times. And if there ever is a low trough, they stick it out because their love is that resiliant and strong. (I'd say about 5% of marriages are like this).

Translate into a dating world...I think folks expect Tier 3; when really according to the SunFresh Institution of Statistics, Tier 3 is only reserved for 5% of the population.

My mother often laughs when I complain about Mr. 2-Year man, "he's this but he isn't that." She is cynical (which cynicism is born out of truth) and is like, "NO man is perfect, so if you expect him to be, you be waiting for a LONG LONG time." I can honestly say that I've adjusted my expectations for men. NOTE that I said adjusted, not lowered. Men communicate differently and have a logic-based view of the world. (I'm using generalizaitons, this would be forever long if I put in every caveat). I can't expect for a man to communicate and understand me emotionally the same way that a friend would. A LOT of my frustration with Mr. 2-Year man has been that he doesn't understand me emotionally at times. Perhaps he's just not supposed to, and that would place us in Tier 2, instead of Tier 3. Which, quite honestly, I'd rather have a Tier 2 and start building a life with somebody now, than wait until I'm 40+ and find my 5% Tier 3.