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Saturday, September 27, 2008

When The Bohemian, Quaker Mama Contemplates Writing Her Wedding Vows

Dedicated to those who continued to believe and found love later.

I'm not a blushing bride in white and you're not a knight in shiny armor (fairy tales really are over-rated). We aren't young lovers with stars in our eyes, dreaming of babies, careers and growing old together.

We're older now. I don't know about becoming wiser with age, but there is clarity and peace, an absence of doubt about who we are and where we are going. We have a few character lines, just a little somethin' to hold on to and baby, gray is very sexy on you.

Most evenings, I am feelin' good from one of your meals and a belly full of laughter. We spend our evenings talking politics, world affairs and sometimes about our children who call to tell us their latest drama (okay, my girls talk about drama), and I can sense the pride you feel about your boys even though you try to mask it. They are fine young men who are very much like their Papa.

We've spent some years together now. There's no need to rush down the aisle. We've done that before. This time we're not running towards happily-ever-after instead we've found heaven on earth in each other's arms.

While you're not my first love ( and thank Maude for it because when I was younger, I didn't have the best judgment), you are more love than I could have ever imagined. I'm so grateful you accept me for who I am. I'm glad that at this stage in our lives, love is what we give not what we're desperately seeking. I'm glad you came along just when you did. With you, I don't need to be or do anything different than who I am. We are everything I want.

Weddings is the prompt this week at Sunday Scribblings.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Susan, my Sunday Scribblings is now up!! don't forget my time scale is different to yours - my Sunday is only just beginning lol
Should have put my name in after I'd composed it!!

I'm not such a gifted writer has you and enjoyed your contribution. take care, Judyx

susan said...

Hi Judy,
Thanks for the compliment. Will be by.

anthonynorth said...

Some great sentiments expressed here - it is how love really is.

Maree Jones said...

I love the practicality of this piece - it feels real and true and down to earth.

GreenishLady said...

In a relationship like that, yes, I could almost consider trying marriage once more. It's a lovely thing to witness when two people find one another when they are ready for that type of relationship.

totomai said...

love matures in time...

and you're right, fairy tales are over rated lol

Anonymous said...

Lovely! But am totally opposite in the way, 'with stars in our eyes, dreaming of babies, careers and growing old' lol

Anonymous said...

Very touching stuff...

Patois42 said...

Oh, Susan, this is great. What a true testament to love.

Roan said...

This piece could have been written about Hubby and me. I enjoyed reading your post. BJ

Linda Jacobs said...

This is so poetically written! There is a simplicity about it that is peaceful.

Granny Smith said...

This is a delightful, thoughtful and wise post. Love comes in so many different modes, each one to be welcomed when it happens.

Alone on the Isle said...

This is a beautiful piece, I loved every word of it (and I read it three times). This line in particular got me: "We're older now. I don't know about becoming wiser with age, but there is clarity and peace, an absence of doubt about who we are and where we are going." Just perfect.

Anonymous said...

You describe a wholesome love, a friendship of respect and enjoyment. I love the line about gravy. You're a great writer!

susan said...

Thank you all,

I wrote this hoping to express how much I love my guy. He's pretty private, but I'm well...some of you know. I can be pretty open about what I think. I am glad you received how I feel so warmly.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Aww, Susan, that's gorgeous. So no-nonsense and yet at the same time, very romantic.

And to answer your question, I've been writing many of my characters for years. It sounds sort of loser-ish to say, until you realize how many there are and how difficult to juggle all their individual voices.

susan said...

Susan,
I'm very impressed with your commitment to developing these characters. That is a winner's quality.

Thanks for reading and commenting. I was a bit anxious about writing this in this way, but it seems, being real works. :-)

Melody said...

What a beautiful expression of your love and commitment to your partner. I wish you both all the best.

Kara Chipoletti Jones of GriefAndCreativity dot com said...

Beautiful!!! I'm all caught up in wedding fever as we are on the road for my eldest goddaughter's wedding -- with my hubby doing all the photography. This is a beautiful expression to happen upon just now, a peaceful isle amid the crazy travel, family coming and going, and all the doings. Thank you for the reminder that it is so much more than the "doings" and trappings of the wedding industry!!
miracles,
k-

rebecca said...

there was a serene quality to this piece, much like what your relationship is now. Love in the later stage of life is different - the bullshit is gone for one no longer has the patience nor the inclination - and because of that I think it tends to run deeper and truer.

This was a very nice piece and I enjoyed reading it.