English Novelty #1 - 'Lads'
I will greatly miss using this word synonymously with 'guys'! (Americans tend to think these words are only Scottish and to be used with 'lass.') Lass isn't a big hit here, and for the record, I will not miss 'birds!'

As I sat by myself watching Marley and Me (always a good start to a Sunday evening on your own...) I started to feel a bit panicky about starting a family. Not that we are planning on this any time soon, but since the next 2 years is what we’re thinking, that’s soon enough! I think what makes me panic the most was thinking about giving up the small bit of independence that I currently have. Mind you, I still can’t drive in the UK (darn you Canadians who can! And by the way, what makes that part of North America more trustworthy on the roads than my part of North America? A couple of hours drive really.) I don't have a particularly wild social life at the moment, and I am married, which does put a nice damper on independence (and I mean nice as in nice!). Yet I was still feeling a bit claustrophobic thinking about not being able to run out the door with just me rather than with with a little me, or two little me’s tagging along (or two little Mike's! Gasp). All of this boils down to the ugly truth of the selfishness that lurks around inside of me. The desire to live for ME and my own happiness, rather than a life of sacrificial love for other's happiness. After all, as Tim Keller so brilliantly puts it: 

"If I put the happiness of [others] ahead of my own needs, then what do I get out of it?' The answer is, happiness...A happiness through serving others instead of using them...It is the joy that comes from giving joy, from loving another person in a costly way." - The Meaning of Marriage 

Now, back to Marley and Me. I think it’s really helpful to be realistic about how hectic family life can be, especially with an unruly dog in the house, but I have to be honest and say that what I ultimately took away from this movie was the beauty and joy that family life can bring (even if you don't have a ridiculously large house and a pool in the backyard!) And to quote Jennifer Aniston (always a reliable source…) “I made a choice, and I don’t regret it, but I never knew it was going to be this hard.”  Fair enough Jenny.  So here’s to a fresh and humble attitude toward buns in the oven! (One bun at a time if you please).