The 200 Million Dollar Question
Then without much thought I asked, "If you knew it would mean certain divorce, would you still want to win 200 million dollars?"
There was a longer pause than there should have been. Then she asked if it would have to mean a divorce. To which I replied, "that's the question I'm asking." Then there was an even longer, awkward pause, while she twisted her mouth as she thought. "No, I suppose not." Then she exited the room.
Even though the conversation was all in jest, it got me thinking. How many people would take the 200 million knowing it would end their marriage? If they are willing to do that, what does that say about their marriage? Do we believe money can solve more of our problems than the ones who love us?
How much is a marriage worth?
5 comments:
I don't think it's a matter of how much a marriage is worth. It's more of an issue of money making people blind to what's most important in their life.
I'm sure most people would like to have enough money so they'd never have to be strapped again, but there's always consequences, unfortunately you can't always see them beforehand.
Wow. I'm not sure that was a fair question, David. :-)
The problem with a number like 200,000,000.00 is that it's so big it doesn't really mean anything. There's no way (for a person like ME, anyway) to put a number like that in perspective, much less if the word "dollars" is attached to it. Because Jen is absolutely dead-on: money makes us blind. Does the phrase "200 million dollars" conjure images of all my problems being solved? You bet it does. And does that seem like an almost worthy trade-off for my marriage? Well, yeah. Almost.
The fact is, my problems only SEEM to revolve around money. In reality, I could just stop paying my bills and then I'd have plenty of money. So it's exuberant over-extension of available resources and a sense of responsibility that is the REAL problem, ha ha.
You asked, "How much is a marriage worth?" You asked even though you already know the answer. A marriage can't be totaled up in debit/credit columns, and its success or failure doesn't depend on the financial stability of the relationship, only the stability of the commitment. In a marriage, the accounting columns are legion and the math doesn't always make sense. A marriage is priceless in the most literal sense of the word.
But 200 million dollars ISN'T priceless. It's tangible and represents power beyond comprehension to me and to, I imagine, most people. It's a lot of fucking money. And in these strange times, Love is, well... everywhere. But money? Not so much.
In all honesty - and it really pains me to say it out loud - if I won 200 million dollars and MSU told me he would leave me if I kept it, I'd have to really think about it. REALLY think about it.
If my kids told me they'd go with their father if I kept it, I'd give it back immediately.
Hmmmm. I guess that doesn't say much about my character, does it?
Hmmmm.
Good post.
No Daughter, it says a LOT about your character. The fact that you'll be honest with a friend when he asks hard questions.
*nod*
I don't think that makes your character suspect anymore than it makes The Wife's. Our marriages maybe. lol
The question reminded me of this conversation Winston Churchill had with a lady at a dinner party.
"Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?"
"My goodness, Mr. Churchill... Well, I suppose I would."
"Would you sleep with me for five pounds?"
"Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!"
"Madam, we’ve already established that. Now we are haggling about the price."
:)
*clap clap*
Very cute, David.
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