×

The story of a marriage

“I maintain that it should cost as much to get married as it does to get divorced. Make it look like marriage is worth as much as divorce, even if it ain’t. That would also make the preachers financially independent like it has the lawyers.”

— Will Rogers

A few years ago this week, our daughter got married. Four decades ago this week, our son was born. And 43 years ago this week, we got married.

It seems that throughout our life, this has been a busy, busy week.

As Will Rogers points out in the above quote, marriage is priceless — even if lawyers do try to put a figure on it when one ends. But for most of us doddering old fools, the truly good things in life have flowed from a marriage. Children and grandchildren come immediately to mind.

Marriage holds up a mirror to you and your spouse. You evolve from the characters on top of a wedding cake to the couple proudly pushing a pram around the neighborhood. Then, before you know it, you’re watching school plays and trying to avoid being named president of the PTA. You buy Girl Scout Cookies and tickets to car washes, swallow your pride and admit you liked the Indiana Jones movies, too.

All the while, the time simply flies. It may seem like one event but, no, there were three separate high school graduations where you blinked back the tears. And, each time, you and your spouse took a vow of poverty and sent the little dears off to college. In the end, you were able to scrape up enough money for bus tickets to those college graduations, too.

And then, the children were gone. They began their own life adventures.

There’s just you and your significant other, alone again. But, that’s all right. We have a grandson who apparently likes us. The neighbor kids still sell tickets to car washes. The Girl Scouts camp out in front of the grocery store every March selling cookies.

Life is good. We have each other, Thin Mints and, occasionally, a clean car. Oh, and a grandson who proudly announces his arrival by proclaiming, “Hello, hello, I’m here!”

And we’re glad he is.

* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
     
Support Local Journalism on Maui

Only $99/year

Subscribe Today