On the "Waity Katy" syndrome...

I read an article the other day on Sydney Morning Herald on the Waity Katy syndrome, and can't help smiling. Australians are obsessed about everything royal. Diana was a national obsession back then. Now they have their own fix, with the fairy tale Aussie commoner girl who is now princess of Denmark. Yes, she is quite stylish and all, but one must admit that there looks to be a tad bit lack of glamor in her otherwise classy style. (I know, I know, it must be a blasphemy to slight the Danish princess from Downunder; no matter.) But with the latest British royal news of engagement by Prince William and Kate Middleton, it's become fever pitch and the Brits are back in vogue again.

Whatever the republic agenda pushed by the then Prime Minister, Paul Keating, Australia would always want to hold onto the English coattail. Sad, but true. If the Queen is smart, she would pass directly the throne to the more photogenic Will and Middleton, bypassing Charles and Bowles altogether. Not that it's fair to Charles. Afterall, even though I don't give a damn about the royals, I do think he does an ok job. Reality is, royal families survive and thrive on hopes and dreams (more fairy tales). That's something that Will can deliver, and Charles is sorely lacking. One can say, it's totally unfair to Charles, but nothing in life does anyways.

...Ah, I'm digressing again. Where was I?...

Ah yes, the "Waity Katy" syndrome. It's about the eight long years that Kate Middleton has been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for Will to pop that question. Will he? Won't he? He loves me. He loves me not. You have to give it to Kate. When it comes to patience, nothing compares to the hopes and dreams of a girl to be a real princess. How cool is that...in name. Every girl has to curtsy to you, Your Highness this, Your Highness that. And, don't forget the castle and jewelry. One might say, Diana was that naive when she stepped in that shoe. Afterall, she was, what, 19 when all these started, and one year later, it's become her ticket to heaven and hell. Oh, but Katy is quite a different matter. She starts waiting from 20, and finally after 8 long years, she's finally getting the engagement, at 28. I don't mean to sound mean or cynical, but I'm not sure if love alone would survive that. I'm sorry to say, but I honestly don't believe it.

At least for Katy, she's betting that she's getting more out of the marriage, than if she doesn't. For the rest of the commoner girls, when their guys keep them hanging and guessing, should the girl wait, or just bail?

Personally, I think it comes down to what the girl wants most. Some girls don't want wedding, marriage, kids, attachment, commitment. That's all well and good. For these minority, I presume, it's no problem at all. In fact, she might even freak out if the guy pops the question.

And then, there are the rest of the majority who really wants to get marriage, the white-dress wedding, the big stone on the ring finger, have family and kids, and a backyard, and to take up husband's last name, what should they do? If I were a girl in this category, and if the guy hasn't proposed yet, chances are, he's not going to do it. Afterall, c'mon, if the girl has wanted all these formality, the guy could not have been so clueless that he doesn't know that's what she wants, after all the months and years together. But if her wants do not align with his, all the waiting is just one big losing proposition. The girl would be much better off bailing out from the relationship. Remember that movie Made of Honor? The movie is a nice eye-candy, but it's fairy tale. If you want Hollywood escape to some la-la land where rich, gorgeous guys are going to fall head over heels over you, and pop the question after 10 years, fine. In reality? It's not gonna happen.

Truth be told, I feel bad for Middleton, having every step of hers to be compared with Diana's. I don't know about you, but if I am to constantly be compared to my mother-in-law, from looks, to style, to works and achievement (if you can call it that), and perhaps, most sadly of all, fate and future, I would be extremely annoyed, to put it very mildly. Afterall, it does not matter how madly in love they seem to be now, or how gorgeous the wedding might look, everyone is expecting the same fate - a boring, unhappy marriage slowly and gradually descend to divorce - down the road. While I don't want to wish ill on anyone, royal or otherwise. The limelight can make such commoner's problems look even harsher.