I just finished watching the movie Sideways starring Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen amongst others. It was an unexpected surprise as I had no idea what I was getting into.

It was a movie about two friends spending the week in California’s vineyards with one trying to get over this ex-wife’s marriage and the other doing what he must do before getting married. Two completely opposite characters – one a failed writer, and the other a partying, L.A. – based actor – connecting in more than one way, experience friendship and hardships.

It struck a cord in many ways as feelings of love and lust intermingled together while their own passion for wine brought them closer together. The four characters were each portrayed superbly by the actors and I felt as if I could relate to each of their experiences through my own encounters.

What does it mean to be married, honest? Who really are your friends?

Coincidentally, I had a similar kind of conversation with a friend today at work. She insisted that marriage requires effort and hard work and that eventually – even though you may have problems at first – you grow to love each other as you work through your issues. Is love and marriage really like that? I like to believe that a love where true compatability and happiness is evident right from the get-go does exist without the “effort” and “hard work” that she thinks is necessary. Am I old fashioned in my thinking? Are we living in a new millenium now?

It’s tough… and the worse part is, we may never know the answer.