Getting into the box is easy....getting out is another story

We Jackson gals are extremely close and we do not put up with men mistreating our family. The quickest way to get on the bad side of this clan is to act like a complete idiot. If you don't believe me just ask any one of the several ex-husbands of this group. You can get in the box for something as simple as complaining our hair is too short or as complex as trying to control one of us. You can get in the box for questioning why we need so many pairs of shoes or for glancing at another woman. Most importantly, don't make plans on New Year's Eve and leave us home by ourselves. I wouldn't say we are jealous, just possessive of our "things" and our men come under that category.

When we have the "In the Box" ritual, we are eager to help one another remember all the jerks who have mistreated us. We also don't worry if we can't remember their name. Usually they have been given a nickname anyway based on characteristics. For example, Bill Clinton, good-looking, politician-type, got his self thrown in the box for several reasons. The most important being that he was married, but failed to tell that critical piece of information upfront. Having said that he would have gone in the box anyway for being a leech. Don't call when you are told not to call and DO NOT show up at our houses unless you are invited.

Now getting in the box is easy, but getting out ain't so. There have been a couple of times we let someone out of the box for improved behavior, but those times have been rare and eventually the jerk ends up back in the box. The dilemma is what happens to that one that would choose his friends over you and gets thrown in the box, but he starts showing signs of improvement? How do we get him out of the box? How long should he stay in the box? My thinking is at least one year. That is unless he shows up with shoes, jewelry, chocolate and a great big apology. Which isn't likely to happen since they never think they have done anything wrong.

So as of March 16, 2010 getting out of the box still proves to be a challenge. My recommendation is don't get yourself in the box in the first place and then you have no worries about getting out.