 (Nick Galifianakis for The Post) | Carolyn Hax is away. The following first appeared June 29, 2007. Dear Carolyn: I recently graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree. This summer I turn 22, this fall I'm starting an accelerated dual master's degree program, and I'm marrying the love of my life. We've been together four years. He is 26, a college graduate and makes a nice living as an engineer. In fact, he already bought us a house. The response I hear when people see my ring is: "You're waaay too young to think about that"; "I wish I never … "; "Statistics show people who marry young divorce in a couple of years." I ask people what age they think I should get married, and I mention our degrees and that we already have a nice house. They scoff. I've even tried saying he makes me incredibly happy and isn't that enough? Their response: "You're too young to know what makes you happy." I hear this at least once a day from someone. My aunts and cousins also know we decided to abstain until marriage, and they bring that up constantly as well. "Now you're going to have horrible sex your whole life"; "The wedding night is going to be terrible." When I broke down crying after being attacked by six aunts at once, my best friend said, "If it upsets you so much, maybe you're not ready." But I am ready, and why can't people mind their own business? — 21-Year-Old Virgin |
