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SHIRLEY VALENTINE

It was cold and grey last Sunday afternoon so we stayed mostly indoors. I noticed my wife looking at the t.v. so seriously so I sat next to her and curious what she was watching, it was Shirley Valentine. First I thought it was same as other European movies, low budget and they don't f%%%%ing stop talking, but then I kind of got into it as it was quite interesting to learn about the life of the ordinary working class in England, Manchester if I'm not mistaken. I love the accent and the brilliant performance of the actors. I don't know if the movie is fact or fiction but I know the world is full of Shirley Valentines or perhaps Sergio Valentinos, haha!

How many women and men are caught in a relationship that they are not completely satisfied.
Whatever happened to the romance during the early years together when a slight touch or look sends the butterflies. There are so many factors that relationship go sour until one feels completely ignored, left out and empty inside and sometimes the emptiness so deep, one becomes numb even if the other try a comeback.

How many souls, after they've made love,left unfulfilled each night, and though physically together, one wanders alone. There are so many women abused by dominating men, more emotionally than physically. Financial insecurity sometimes also play a big part but for the most part it is emotional-'disconnect' that causes the cancer in a relationship. Couples truly and madly in love with each other will struggle together through thick and thin. There are couples that seem to be the envy of others in public, rich, beautiful homes, fancy cars, lovely children but then all of a sudden you hear of a break up because of infidelity. And sometimes you would find the most gentle, kind, generous partner who loves you to death and yet you are not happy.

The truth is sometimes, many finally realized that it was a mistake from the start but yet despite being choked up unhappy in a relationship, they hang in there for many reasons, the children, financial stability, reputation with family and friends, fear of the unknown, but in solitude, the nights are cold, the silent tears then tomorrow it's back to same routine - gotta get up early for John's morning hockey game then the gorceries etcetera , etchetera.

Then there are many, who finally got up one morning and said "Fuck this shit! I have enough of this crap, I am tired of taking care of everybody and gets no gratitude in return, now for once in my life, I'm going to take care of me, I'm packing my bags, go to an exotic place, where there are palm trees instead of pines and maples, pineapples, mangoes, kiwis instead of apples and oranges, blue skies and sandy beaches, where people dance, sing and drink and celebrate to be alive, handsome men with sweet tongues, beautiful women of native charms -
"hasta la vista amigos, ciao, sayonara, bye bye to domestic hell - welcome paradiso!!"

But for those who are in a fairly decent relationship and there is hope to keep the family and repair and rekindle your partner's passion, think twice and deep for because of selfish gratification you may loose everything and end up more miserable than ever before. If you are choking to death and convinced to the point of no return then for sure, please, "por favor- git outta la casa immediatemente!"
If you haven't seen the movie, these two scenes would be food for thought for those seeking an adventure:

The reality is many unhappy partners start to create a fantasy world away from the routine, boring, insecure, cold or abusive relationships. And some have decided to live their dreams to be swept off their feet by a charming man as in the movie as Shirley Valentine met this charming, tall dark and handsome bistro owner who had been serving her the drinks and the food and gave her all the attention and politeness and asked her everytime to assure she is enjoying her stay in the islands and finally he asked her an invitation a lonely, vulnerable woman cannot refuse: "I would like you to go with me in my boat and show you all the islands - no, no, no don't worry I will not fuck you!" - but she did!

She had so much fun, until it's time to go back to Manchester. She went back home and nothing has changed, but she had... and back to the islands she did. The first thing she wanted to see was her greek lover who she spotted by the bar talking to a tourist lady and she quietly got closer, hiding from his view and curiously listened as he heard him tell the lady: "I would like you to go with me in my boat and show you all the islands - no, no, no don't worry I will not fuck you!"

-DR. PHIL