I just can't allow myself to enter into a "half-way" contract with a man – like let's pretend we're committed to each other, when really we're not. Maybe I need security in my life more than most people, but I just couldn't handle it. I don't want to join my life to someone in a temporary way."

Sara, I mean no disrespect when I say this, but I think you have it all wrong. To me, it seems like a safer way to ease into a marriage (living together prior to marrying), if for no other reason than to see if you can actually stand being around that person all the time. Living with your significant other is much different than just being with them a lot. When you live with someone, you learn a lot more about them just when you thought you knew it all. Are you coming from a religious stance on this? I am not quite sure why you are against two people in a loving, committed relationship moving in together as the step between partnership and marriage. In my opinion, when couples do this they save themselves from having to go through a painful divorce, or worse, having children who have to go through that with them when they have lived under the same roof for a couple years and realize they made a big mistake and can't stand each other. This country was founded by puritans, and as we have evolved we have seen over the course of history the end of people getting married at 17 or 18 just because they didn't want to disappoint their families, but really wanted to be intimate with their partner without being looked upon as a sinner. I will say it is a double edged sword, as now when two people marry they may jump into it faster because divorce is so prevalent and widely accepted in today's society where it didn't used to be, so they feel it isn't permanent because divorce is always an option. Would you rather see people getting divorced more often, or people living together out of wedlock? I think you need to cool down with emotions and keep your eyes on your own paper, don't worry about what other people choose to do with their lives, and especially their relationships. You are entitled to your beliefs, even if they are dated, but you shouldn't expect anyone else (outside of your church) to feel the same way.

FYI – up to date news on distracted driving.
I saw a brief segment of C-span today and was reminded of this post. The Second National Distracted Driving Summit was being shown live. I think the feds are serious as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the U.S. D.O.T. are very much involved. The official U.S. government website for distracted driving is at http://www.distraction.gov/ .

Oh Yeah! And about the texting while driving, I totally think we need to control ourselves. I myself does it, sometimes I go out of the house telling myself not to text while driving but the moment my phone beeps, I just cant help it.

P.S. It would be great if you can post tips on how to stop this seemingly safe but extremely dangerous texting while driving thing? I just cant self-police myself!

Oh and I love the blog, gonna keep checking back.

Shelby