Hooked on the Drama

Currently, 6 billion people inhabit our planet. The dream of World Peace envisions all 6 billion individuals learning to coexist in harmony and tranquility, bound together in sacred union until natural death separates them. Let's begin with something modest. Let's see if two people can manage to coexist peacefully.

Samuel Twain, age 54, holds a Yale degree and has worked as a former law professor, District Attorney, and defense attorney before becoming an exceptionally influential and prosperous philanthropist and property developer. Clearly, we're not discussing someone ordinary here. We're describing someone with the golden touch of Midas in his career, yet cursed like Murphy in his private life - the only principle he's experienced is Murphy's Law - or so he believes - far too often. Sam is presently wed to Jane, a remarkably beautiful woman who is well-liked, intelligent, and graceful. She passionately engages in ballet, tennis, golf, and community activities, appearing outwardly as the ideal woman. Sam and Jane have nurtured two exceptional children: Jacqueline, a 26-year-old doctor married to Alan, a 28-year-old doctor, and Gail, a charming 21-year-old preparing to marry Richard, a promising young attorney. They all enjoy excellent health while residing in Boca Raton, Florida, seemingly representing the family that draws envy from everyone worldwide - a contemporary version of a picture-perfect family. Sadly, the entire family finds itself trapped in anguish and despair, as though their ship had struck an iceberg in the frigid Atlantic waters during the night, and the captain suddenly discovered the lifeboats were never loaded. How is this possible?

Have you encountered that simple three-letter term called sex? Sigmund Freud, considered the founder of contemporary psychiatry, who allegedly maintained improper relations with his mother regularly, claimed that men experience sexual thoughts every three seconds. All those hours spent observing from his chair with his timepiece must have sparked his interest in Franz Antoine Mesmer, who pioneered faith healing and hypnosis - unless you consider the Jewish-born rabbi who created the Universe, revered as the Messiah by 2 billion Christians and 1 billion Muslims, Jesus, also known as Joshua, Yeshua, The Holy Spirit, and God the Father Almighty - you understand whom I mean. Sam and Jane have invested countless hours, perhaps even days, with their marriage counselor Dr. Ellen Friedrich, who continues working on their case without achieving any progress. She questions how she completed 11 years of medical training yet cannot help what appears to be the world's most perfect couple live together harmoniously. Sam has spent so much time moving between baby Thomas's nursery, hotel rooms, and his luxurious Hampton estate alone that when a border officer requested his address, he started drooling uncontrollably and required restraints to prevent self-harm.

What lies at the heart of Sam and Jane Twain's suffering? Eight years ago, a charming woman named Dawn, divorced from two abusive alcoholic husbands, joined Sam Twain's office as a secretary. Describing the attraction between Sam and Dawn as intense would be like claiming Adolf Hitler held only mild reservations about Jewish people. Sam and Dawn not only ignite passion in the bedroom at an age when Sam should require medical assistance, but they also share an incredibly strong friendship. Simultaneously, Sam remains deeply in love with Jane, though three decades together have somewhat diminished their physical connection. One might assume that among these three intelligent and mature individuals, at least one person after eight years of this complicated situation would have managed to end their relationship with one of the others, but sadly we're dealing with human nature, and life isn't so straightforward.

Sam finds himself unable to abandon Jane because of his deep love for her. Sam cannot leave Dawn because of his strong feelings for her, and Dr. Freud might have miscalculated - perhaps it's actually every two seconds. Dawn cannot end things with Sam because he provides solutions to all her financial, emotional, intimate, and personal challenges, while Jane cannot force Sam from their home because she loves him deeply and understands that having a partially committed husband beats online dating - an endless parade of coffee meetings with troubled individuals carrying their own complicated histories. Perhaps this explains why world peace remains elusive - it's simply impossible. Maybe the Black Eyed Peas understood correctly - we're all too hooked on the drama.