The Wedding

Things are very different today than they were 48 years ago. I married my sons’ father in September of 2000, in a quiet ceremony in my parents’ backyard. My parents are gone now, but enough about that.

I sit here today, in the quiet of this small church, waiting to see my granddaughter get married. My son has a 25 year old daughter now, and she is getting married.

Which is what prompted my reminiscing. I met my ex-husband in what would be called the traditional way now. It wasn’t traditional then, though. We met through an internet personal ad. I posted an ad, looking for someone funny, loving, and intelligent, and he responded. It seemed like a weird thing to do at the time, but now it’s considered totally normal.

My granddaughter met the man she is marrying today when she had trouble ordering her groceries online. After all these years, I still find it odd to say that, ordering groceries online. You used to walk the aisles of the store, but that‘s not the norm these days. She had to go to the store that month to buy her groceries. Funny how what used to be normal to me is unconventional to her.

He was the manager at the store, and they chatted while he rang up her food. The rest is history.

This wedding itself, though, is not much different than all weddings have been over the centuries. My granddaughter is wearing the traditional white wedding gown, with lots of lace and pearl beads and a filmy white veil. She looks so beautiful.

Her groom is handsome in a black tuxedo, standing there with his hands clasped in front of him, nerves turning his knuckles white. It’s good to know he really loves my granddaughter. She’s very special to my son, and he would hurt this young man if he thought that he didn’t really love my granddaughter.

The two young people stand there in front of the young pastor, listening to the man recite his speech about love’s unending circle, its power and how lucky they are to have found it.

My second marriage, although much happier than my first, had a much quieter ceremony. Simple “I Do’s” were exchanged in a courtroom at the county courthouse. We’ve been together now for 33 years. I only hope my granddaughter’s marriage is as happy.

The pastor announces that they will now exchange their vows. I grasp my husband’s hand as my granddaughter begins to speak.

The vows are beautiful. They exchange rings, kiss and are now no longer single people, but a married couple. They’ve embarked on a brand-new life, with the same hopes, fears, and dreams as the millions of couples that have done this before them over the centuries. And just like those couples, they will come out the other side, happy, strong, and bonded for life.

Time may pass, but some things never change.