Dear Cr-Abby from 54 Years and Counting in Tigerville, SC

DEAR CR-ABBY:
"Young and in Love" (Oct. 31) does not need to "defend" herself. Lots of folks who marry young have successful marriages. I was 20, and my wife was 21 when we married. My mother thought I was too young, but signed the paper giving us permission because I was underage in the state where we were married. That was 54 years ago.
Our secret is a personal commitment under God to each other to make it work during the difficult times as well as the good ones.
-- 54 YEARS AND COUNTING, TIGERVILLE, S.C.

Dear Jailbait Junky in Felinetown,

Congrats on your 2 score and 14 years ago marriage and for bucking the odds. However, I have a much different opinion...

While it it true that marrying later is no lock for success, it is also true that the stats against teenage marriage are abysmal. That fact as well as what I see as a youth that takes longer to mature emotionally than in the past makes this even more troublesome.

God's little joke, or (natures evolving ways for you Secularists) is that they seem to be sprouting physically faster but emotionally stunted...a really tough combination.

Maybe "keeping it in the family" down south helps drive up the stats a bit but that comes with issues that run upstream to natural selection improvements.
So, keep up the great marriage and I agree that God in your life is a great cement...but I would not advocate that anyone who isn't sure which side of their lip to pierce should be comtemplating lifelong marriage commitment.

Cr-Abby .