No Shortage of Love
Here’s a story about a supply chain in full bloom. Just when about everything else is in short supply there’s a surplus. Of what? Of young people in love. Kids have taken off their masks and rediscovered love and marriage. It’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.
There was a lot of joy in our home last weekend—the Beautiful Wife hosted three college students—our granddaughter Elizabeth, her roommate Anna, and Jake, rumored to be our granddaughter’s boyfriend. They were here for the wedding of mutual friends, a big event with 23 bridesmaids and a dozen grooms. Sometimes it takes a village to launch a marriage.
Elizabeth’s busy preparing to take the admission test for medical school, the MCAT, but she confided to the Beautiful Wife she has eight weddings on this year’s social calendar. I was told on good authority that it’s the start of the biggest boom in weddings since the G.I.s of World War II threw down their arms and grabbed their gals. I couldn’t confirm the numbers, but that’s the word on the street. It got us thinking about weddings in our lives.
Some years ago, when our children were young, we were driving down Coast Highway and encountered a sidewalk wedding. The kids were fascinated and called out to stop the car. We got out and took it all in, the bride in white, the groom in black. I was fascinated by how simply, and cheaply, a marriage could be done. The kids were intrigued by the magic of older kids vowing a life partnership. The Beautiful Wife was wiping her eyes.
Our own marriage was almost as simple. I was a struggling engineering student with a year to go, but one day I was tired of living alone. We were in different cities but I proposed to the Beautiful Wife the next time I saw her. She said, “yes.” I knew nothing of being a husband and with the distraction of studies and career wasn’t the quickest learner. She was patient. The children came, one by one, seven in all. The Beautiful Wife was, and remains, a wonderful mother. The kids grew up and one by one they married. Grandchildren came, a bunch. She loves them and they love her.
Now we just had a grandchild visit for a wedding, one of those 23 bridesmaids. She brought a boyfriend. I don’t know if he’s the one she’ll marry. That’s a tough decision they’ll have to sort out. But young people are figuring it out all over the country. It’s wonderful.
We’ve had the usual difficulties along the way, the Beautiful Wife and I. But I want to acknowledge this: My life has improved every year since I grew tired of living alone and proposed to the Beautiful Wife. I think hers has too. There’s meaning in that.
Skip fell in love with Laguna on a ‘50s surfing trip. He’s a student of Laguna history and the author of “Loving Laguna: A Local’s Guide to Laguna Beach”. Email: [email protected]
