November 21, 2014 9:47 AM

Psychokillers need love, too

It turns out that serial killers and the women who love them are just like us. They deal with the same struggles and questions that many of us do: What to do when the bride’s mother has an issue with the groom? How to be connected while maintaining boundaries? When and where to register? By now, you’ve surely heard about the engagement of the year: The 80-year-old incarcerated mass murderer Charles Manson and his 26-year-old betrothed who goes by the name Star have been granted a wedding license by the state of California. The fact that this couple, separated by distance, prison and age, are still planning their beautiful jailhouse wedding tells us one thing: these love birds are doing something right!

Marriage is hard. Trust me on this; I know of which I speak…and I know I’m not alone in that knowledge. It’s never been easy, but it seems as if it’s become even more difficult to keep things together in our fast-paced, uber-connected, I-want-it-yesterday world. Reality conspires in innumerable ways to strain, stress, and divide loving relationships. Kids, bills, career, health- life is a difficult thing to navigate under the best of circumstances. Keeping a marriage together can often be just this side of miraculous…and that’s when one or both parties are convicted psychokillers.

So how’s a couple of star-crossed lovers separated by generations and prison bars to have a hope of making a go of matrimony? How are an 80-year-old mass murder and an innocent 26-year woman from Missouri supposed to enjoy the “happily ever after” when he’s a permanent guest of the state of California? Marriage can assume many forms, and it’s something different ever time and “I do” is exchanged. Yes, it’s ultimately up to each couple to define what their marriage looks like…but there are some hurdles any of us entering into a marriage should be grateful we don’t face.

Even given the barriers in front of Charles Manson and Star (yes, that’s the name she goes by), they still have many of the same relationship issues that any couple faces. That Manson’s facing a life (and then some) sentence for being a mass murderer only makes the triumphs that much sweeter for them.

Star is unwavering in her commitment to Charles. She told Rolling Stone, “Yeah, well, people can think I’m crazy. But they don’t know. This is what’s right for me. This is what I was born for.” Star was equally determined about her marriage: “I’ll tell you straight up, Charlie and I are going to get married… I take it very seriously. Charlie is my husband.”

Hmm…people think Star’s crazy? Quelle surprise; she’s marrying a psychotic mass murder more than three times her age who’s eligible to be released from prison on the 12th of Never.

For the sake of their marriage, it’s a very good thing that their relationship isn’t built on physical intimacy…because their isn’t going to be any.

If you build a relationship around sex, you’ll be setting yourself up for disappointment. Sex and chemistry come and go, but love, appreciation and mutual respect are what stay the course. The Mansons, luckily enough, have never had any sexual contact that could have impaired their judgment. Their love is based on so much more than sexual chemistry. And that’s a good thing, because California may grant marriage licenses and perform weddings in the clink, but it does not grant conjugal visits to prisoners without parole dates.

Love makes the world go ‘round…even for a psychotic mass murderer and his betrothed, who considers Manson to be a “political prisoner.” Right…and O.J. Simpson and Scott Roeder were just a little misunderstood. If you’re inclined to celebrate love, you’ll be gratified to know the couple already has a wedding registry…at Bed Bath and Beyond. I’m leaning toward the Wedgwood Butterfly Bloom Rim Soup Bowl.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on November 21, 2014 9:47 AM.

Karma can be a real bitch...especially when intolerance and homophobia are involved was the previous entry in this blog.

I don't want to cause a panic, but it appears we're running out of chocolate is the next entry in this blog.

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