Christmas Cheer?

Alas, I am still employed, even though I don't show the proper decorum in public by denying that my wife exists and that I love her dearly.  After being warned, we cooled everything way down in our puritanical, bible-belt community.  How, exactly is holding your wife's hand in public or giving her a quick kiss on the cheek offensive.  Last night, I watched a commercial with women prancing around in underwear and bras doing some rather suggestive things with their movements.  I can see quasi-sex acts on TV, but I can't hold my wife's hand in public.  I thought I lived in the United States, but somehow, the bible-belt states missed all the connection to the Constitution of the United States.  I have to keep looking at the money in my pocket to remind myself I live in America instead of some third-world middle easter country that treats their wives like possessions.  I have traveled this country from coast to coast and no other place is so judgemental as the bible-belt.  Like Ghandi said, "I like your Christ, but not your Christians; they are so unlike your Christ."  How true.  Sadly, but how true.  When I am finacially able to move, I will.  I am tired of being judged and put down by all the holier-than-thou people.  In my position, I get to answer calls to their houses and find out who is in bed with whom, who is beating their wife, and who are the drunks.  You know what?  They are the same people pointing their finger at me and trying to shame me because I love my wife and I am not ashamed to show her every minute of every day.  Go figure.

So, What is proper and who gets to say so?

I love my wife. She loves me. We communicate openly every day. We have both had less than perfect marriages in the past and we took a year to talk about our individual needs, what we expected, and what we were willing to do to avoid falling into the rut of life and having a less than desireable relationship.

After the year had passed, we decided to get married. We said our own vows and off we went into a blissful relationship. The first words we say in the morning is, "I love you". The same before we go to sleep. The same thing is said throughout the day everytime we look at each other in the eye. We are always close, holding hands or touching a shoulder. We appreciate all the things that the other does for us and we tell each other that all the time. A year into this marriage has shown that this works. I am still madly in love with my wife and she with me. It is now a habit and comes without even thinking. I look for things to make her happy and ways to show her how important she is to me. She is the center of my soul and everyone who is around us knows this. This is the life we swore to each other we would lead. It is our life, is it not?

That's where is starts to get tricky. We live in the "Bible Belt" in small town. I just happen to work for the town government. During the past year, people have welcomed my new wife and were glad to see me so happy, but then our happiness started to wear on people. They did not like seeing us in public holding hands or stating that we loved each other. The didn't like the way we would look soulfully into each other's eyes and maybe steal a quick peck on the cheek. They did not like how I opened her door everytime, gave her a quick hug or even a chaste kiss on the lips.

My job is on the line. They are "talking" about all this sinful display of affection in public. Make no mistake, we are not making out at a council meeting and I don't put my hand up her dress. We are merely showing our love and devotion to each other on a personal level, but that makes everyone "uncomfortable". I was told that this was not proper decorum. What is that exactly and who sets it?