There was an 11 year gap between my paternal grandparents, qualifying them (just) as a May-December couple. if you’re not familiar with the term, it basically means that one partner is significantly older than the other. Dawne is a mere 18 months older than I, so we don’t qualify. The general consensus in our society is that people should marry within their own age group. While a May-December relationship is not strictly taboo, it does raise eyebrows, especially if the gap is greater than 10 years.
Women who marry older men are often thought to be gold diggers, and should an older woman marry a younger man, well the terms and attitudes can get decidedly impolite. It also bears noting that the same conventions do not hold true for men. A young man who has a relationship with an older woman is considered lucky, as she is “experienced”. Yes, that kind of “experienced”. An older man who marries a younger woman is also considered lucky, if for no other reason than it (apparently) proves that he is still virile in his decrepitude.
And so it is that, with a smirk on my face, that I present to you an article I recently found at The Times Online, entitled, “Every young girl needs an older man“. It is a modern tale of a May-December relationship. I think that I like it most because it just goes to show that May-December or June-July, love is eternally timeless, knowing no bounds… Despite the opinions of jealous wanna-be gold diggers and wishful decrepitude of old men.
Cheers, Marc
2 Comments
I’d have to be in your corner on this one. I’ve been married to and in love with the same December man for 22 years. He’s 65 and I’m 50. We age gappers get so much negative press. It’s nice to find someone who is NOT in May December relationship who gets it! I’m glad to find your site. We’re always looking for good relationship blogs. Good luck with the blogging.
cheerios,
Gayle
Best thing I ever did was become involved with a women 30 years my junior and she will tell you the same thing. I have the maturity and finances to show her the world and she knows that she is safe and that her children will attend the finest schools. She also knows I will never stray from her and that I am always there for her. You can’t say that about most men her age.