Friday Follies - Is He Your Spectre-tacular Soulmate?

Imagine my surprise (maybe you won't have to because you will be surprised too!) when I heard that there is an Irish woman who has married a 300 year old ghost!  Yes, a ghost.  Not just any ghost either - a pirate ghost.  That's rrrrrright - a pirate.  It would be a feather in any woman's cap to say that she is married to a pirate (only if it's a sexy Johnny Depp pirate, mind you), but being married to a ghost is an ethereal feather that I have never considered putting into my own cap.

Mmmm, pirate...

Fortunately this lady was experienced with communicating with the dead, so she wasn't surprised or freaked out when he contacted her.  After years of chatting and late night discussions, they developed feelings for each other (I'm not making this up, you can google it or read about it here.  A marriage soon followed (conducted on international waters and apparently legal) and they live on in marital bliss.

It's a nice day, for a ghost wedding.

Much to my surprise (again!), there are references to ghost marriages in many countries, including Sudan and China, and it is actually legal in France (to be specific, it's legal to marry a dead person, but a ghost sounds like so much more fun).  Vive la difference!

Swipe right or left?

So what would it be like to be married to a ghost?

Probably a lot quieter....or would it be?  If you can only hear him in your head, you wouldn't be able to block out his incessant pratter about trucks or other such scintillating topics. Okay, let's put a tick on the side of a real life husband - I'd much rather hear him in my ears than my head.

If he was in my head, he'd know my secrets.

Having a husband with access to my head would be a disaster, running amok amongst my innermost thoughts.  Shudder....

I think being married to a ghost husband would also put a new spin onto the phrase 'silent but deadly', but I'm not sure how the whole Dutch Oven thing would work any more.  That may need more thought.  I don't think you can escape the flatulence and self-congratulatory titters that accompany with them if you have a husband of any type.

Excuse me?

No dirty clothes dumped on the floor or on top of the dirty clothes hamper would be a tick of approval for the ghost husband, but how often would you sit on him by accident while he was watching a superhero movie on a Sunday afternoon.  I think a pirate ghost would definitely like superhero movies - I can't see him being into chick flicks at all.

A distinct advantage to a ghost husband would be companionship.  On the premise that most people that are married actually like and love each other, companionship is for life.  If you have a ghost spouse, you get the bonus of companionship in the after-life.  But then it goes without saying that if you don't like your spouse, this becomes a huge minus.

Fights would be interesting, the yelling would be one-sided and you would sound like an absolute maniac to your neighbours.  Throwing things at his head would be terribly unsatisfying, but at least he couldn't slam the door as he storms out of the house.  Storming out?  Sorry buddy, more like a gentle breeze.  That's not how to make a point.

I think you would get a bit resentful over time though, because he wouldn't be able to do his share of the house work and yard work, and no one likes to feel like a slave, not even a pirate's wench..uh...wife.  After all, marriage is about the sharing of burdens and responsibilities.

Another plus, no in-laws to deal with.  Unless they are ghosts too.  I can think of no advantages to having a ghost mother-in-law at all, hanging around in your business all the time.

I was going to say that spooning in bed on a cold winter's morning would not be pleasant with a ghost, but this lady is adamant that they have a pretty fantastic physical relationship.  I find that mildly disturbing, so I won't address the spooning.

Yes, I said 'physical relationship' with a ghost....

After very little consideration, I think I'll stick with my real-life hubby.  He's pretty great (don't tell him that please).   If he wants to hang out with me when we pass to the other side, I'd probably be okay with that too.

Obligatory cute cat picture while staying with the pirate theme.