Letters to Karen: A Father's Advice On Keeping Love in Marriage($10.49Value)

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Every bride wants her father's blessing and to have the wisdom that comes from more than forty years of happy marriage. In this classic book, a father writes letters of love, encouragement, and advice to his newly engaged daughter. In his letters are the hopes and dreams that all parents share for their children as they begin a new chapter of their lives. Beloved for its thoughtfulness and insight, Letters to Karen contains advice that is as sound and relevant today as when it was originally written in 1965. The best-loved book with a fresh new look. Letters to Karen A Father's Advice on Keeping Love in Marriage By Charlie W. Shedd Abingdon Press Copyright © 2012 Abingdon Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4267-5476-0 Contents Introduction, Preface, "Exhibit A", We Know in Part, Happiness Is to Grow Up, Let Freedom Ring, Yours for Fun, Emphasis on the Good Things, Tell Him He's Wonderful, Moods! Moods! Moods!, The Bridge of Communication, Eyeball-to-Eyeball, "I'm Sorry, Honey", The "H" Twins—Humility and Honesty, Getting Through to the Real Self, The Baby and the Muscle Man, Sex Is a Sacrament, Sexual Differences, Male and Female, The Saint and the Sweet Little Sinner, Those Great Big Beautiful Dollars, Want Your Own Wants, Happy Housekeeping, A Savory Smell from the Kitchen, If Adversity Strikes, Sometimes Look Outward, When Nothing Works, Greater Than the Two of You, What Is Your Happiest Memory?, CHAPTER 1 "EXHIBIT A" My dear Karen, You always were a clever little thing, and I see you have lost none of your touch. They say, "Flattery will get you everywhere!" It did this time. You sent me quickly to my typewriter. Wouldn't any father swell with pride before such admiration? Imagine that! My daughter thinks that much of my opinions. But when I sat down to begin, a great light dawned! Your request is a superb compliment, but it is not for me. For twenty years you have been observing "Exhibit A"! Therefore, brought low once more by your trickery, I accept your proposal as the magnificent bouquet to your mother which it really is. You know how devoid I am of knowledge in many areas. But you also know that on one item I am an unmitigated authority. Firsthand, I understand how good it is to be loved by a genius in the art of being a wife. It will be fun describing my favorite person, so I'll be writing you again real soon. Love, Dad WE KNOW IN PART My dear Karen, When you were in high school, you went with many boys. We watched on tiptoe when some new date came to the house. Would this be the one? If my memory serves me correctly, not one of them was a total collapse. We admired your taste. They were all nice-looking. Even the big clown who was "so homely he's cute," as you put it, wasn't overly hard on our eyes. We liked something about every boy you ever dated. (Come to think of it, there was that one you said reminded you of "a stray puppy looking for a home." We thought he'd never go away. He was the nearest to an exception.) We would discuss them between us, your mother and I, and we were proud of your friends. They were well-mannered, clean-cut, nicely groomed when they should be, and "such good drivers." This last is what you told us, and I guess you are living proof of your claim. That giant he-man football player took our eye. He must have spent a fortune calling you long-distance. He reminded us of a Saint Bernard dog—huge, but so gentle and leisurely. Then came a night I'll never forget. It was after you had dated him for some time. I was still up when you came in, and you announced that you had just crossed him off your list, too. You know how it is with fathers. I was afraid that something unpleasant had happened. "No," you assured me, "he's so sweet. But, Daddy, could we visit a little right now?" As nearly as I can recall them, your exact words were: "I worry sometimes about me. It seems as if all the boys I ever go with are just darling for a while and then I get bored. After a few dates it's as if I knew all there is to know. Do you think there's something wrong with me? I'm scared when I think about getting married. How could I possibly spend my whole life with one man? Do you suppose I'll ever find one interesting enough to keep my attention forever?" Of course I assured you that someday one would appear, riding from out of somewhere, and he would have ample soul to keep you entertained for always. You said you weren't sure I was right. Then you made this speech which rang the deep bells in my heart. You took me by the hand and said, "Daddy, I made a big decision tonight. I'm never, ever going to get married unless I meet a boy who is so great it will take a whole lifetime to know everything there is about him." I thought this was terrific. That night you reached out and touched the pulse of your future husband. Time passed and suddenly your question marks stood erect like exclamation points! ! ! The first we k