In fact, don't even know where to start...

Being a child, I always imagined the way I'd be proposed - a candlelit table in an expensive restaurant, light music, friendly atmosphere... Or a warm evening by the sea, US in the beams of the drooping sun... Well. I might go on and on. Where do these ideas come from??? Melodramas? Love stories?
I was growing, but still in the heart of my hearts I was still imagining being asked to get married in a romantic way - with a ring in a glass of champagne and HIM kneeling before me...

I started dating in the 11-th form with a guy who was good at tennis and was very clever. Boring!!!
Then had a summer love affair - when I was sure that was love at first sight. With all the consequences of long tearful letters, poetry and getting disillusioned and bored again. Then a few more love affairs, when I was sure I would never marry such guys. And ended up with a friend. A real good friend. I knew he liked me, but had no passionate feelings to him. I was crying on his shoulder and enjoying his jokes and wit... He made passes and I managed to avert them kindly and one day found myself coming to him to live. It was quite a deal... Firstly, my parents didn't quite like the idea. Well, they knew we had close relationships and had to accept it (through rows - that is the first bad thing about a common-law marriage!!! Parents can not accept it, especially if it's about their daughter!!!). Secondly, I was proposed by another man whom Mom liked more...
Well... When I moved to my friend's, we were not thinking about marriage. We were not thinking it was serious. So... we went on living that way for a year, when it suddenly struck me that was not what I had been dreaming about!!! (Well, Mom helped a lot to make me come to that conclusion ;)) But my common-law husband didn't seem eager to marry... And I started getting annoyed and irritated at every little thing! Sure, he didn't get what it was all about... So, I had to ask him to get married to me... Most stupid and humiliating!!! I wouldn' say he said no, but he didn't say yes! He offered to make it LATER. I felt so much humiliated that I started a row. The end was happy... But no proposals!!! Isn't it upsetting?

Still... I'm glad we were living together before getting married. We had enough time to get to know each other's habits, to get used to each other.
Well... He would have married me if I had got pregnant anyway. I was lucky at least that way... But I have quite many examples of men refusing registered relationships even when they have off-springs! And I feel sorry for the women... They don't gain anything! And though, if a man would like to leave, he'd leave notwithstanding the fact he's got a child, still a woman giving birth to a baby out of wedlock, is unsafe and gossiped about. Would a loving man let his beloved be gossiped about???