March 25, 2005

• Tyche has given us another Truth or
  Dare challenge.  This time I sucked it up and asked for a
  Dare.  And I love what Tyche has asked me to do...

  CaliGrrrl - Dare. 
  The next time you're in a public place - on the bus, at the mall - do a
  little people-watching.  Select someone and by observing them, try to
  figure out where they're going, what their mission is, perhaps what
  they do for a living.  Maybe they have theatre tickets in their
  pocket.  Maybe they're holding flowers.  Write an entry on this person
  - what they're doing and what will happen next.
  

  I was in the local Recorder’s office here yesterday.  The Recorder’s office issues marriage
  licenses, in addition to maintaining all property records for the county.  The office is a long rectangle, with a very
  long counter, about 4 1/2 feet high.  The
  employees at the Recorder’s office are all very nice.  Good, patient people - the kind of people
  that make living in the county so enjoyable.

  One thing about North Idaho is that
  it appears to be the marriage capital of the Inland Northwest.  It is about as easy to get married here as it
  is to get married in Las Vegas.  Complete a simple form, present ID at the Recorder’s
  office, and bam! you have your marriage license. 

  Some days the Recorder’s office is very crowded, other days
  I am the only customer in there. 
  Yesterday there were four people besides me in the office.  One was another attorney, one was from a
  title company (you can tell because we are all greeted by name by the Recorder
  employees) and the other was an older couple getting a marriage license.

  I know it was a marriage license because I overheard Donna
  explaining how the licensing process works (“You keep this copy, it is suitable
  for framing, and give this one to the person performing the ceremony…”)

  The man and woman looked to be in their late 50s or early
  60s.  He was about 5’9” and she about 5’4”,
  both wearing casual clothes.  (A
  cream-colored sweater for him, and a black floral print blouse for her - I didn’t
  notice their trousers.)  What I did
  notice was how close they stood together. 
  He was leaning with his left side against the counter, which she stood
  facing the counter, snuggled up to his chest. 
  His right arm was around her shoulders, and he held her left hand with
  his left hand, their linked hands resting on the counter.  He looked very protective of her and very
  tender at the same time.  She seemed so
  content there, leaning against him.  And
  she giggled like an 8th grader when Diane mentioned that their certificate
  could be framed.

  They kept smiling up at each other as the paperwork was
  processed.

  It got me to wondering…were they here alone?  Did they live in Idaho
  or in Washington?

  And here is what I think:

  For the sake of convenience, we will call them John and
  Elaine.

  They are both from Washington,
  they’ve lived in the Spokane area
  all their lives, but met each other about 8 months ago at a dance class -
  Ballroom Dancing - offered by the local community college, adult education
  department.  They hit it off right away,
  enjoyed dancing with each other, and after that first class they went for a cup
  of coffee.  They’ve rarely been apart
  since.

  They have kids from prior marriages - he’s got one son who
  lives in Seattle; she’s got three kids, two daughters, one son, all of whom
  live in Spokane.  He’s divorced, she’s a
  widow.  Their kids are grown, and have
  children of their own.  Elaine’s kids are
  vehemently opposed to the marriage - they think she’s moving too fast.  John’s son doesn’t really care much, since he
  lives in Seattle and has his own
  life and concerns - he rarely gets back here to visit.

  John and Elaine figured they could dash across the border to
  Idaho and get a “quickie marriage”
  at a local wedding chapel, then Elaine’s kids wouldn’t really have much further
  chance to interfere.  They are nervous
  but very excited, and also very much in love.

  After the wedding ceremony, they plan to have an early dinner
  at the Resort here, an unaccustomed luxury, since they don’t get over here that
  often, and dinner at the Resort is expensive, and best saved for special
  occasions.

  They will have a table near the window at which to eat their
  dinner, and get to look out over the lake while they eat.  The weather has cooperated, and the sun is shining
  even though it is cold, so the view will be gorgeous.  At dinner they will feel very giddy and
  decide to splurge on a bottle of champagne. 
  Elaine will giggle throughout dinner, looking at her new husband with
  all the love she feels shining from her eyes.

  After dinner they head back to Spokane,
  and will spend the night at John’s house. 
  The next day they will begin the process of moving some of Elaine’s
  things over to John’s place, and they have decided to use Elaine’s house as a
  rental.  They have decided to invite all
  of Elaine’s kids over to her house for Easter Brunch, and they will make their
  announcement to her kids at that time.

  Now…it is your turn…

  Do Elaine’s kids accept the marriage?  Or do they continue to oppose the
  relationship, and cause a huge rift with their mother?

  • 2:57 pm
  • 10 Comments