Matrimonial ramblings

The day started off with a last minute soccer registration for Darby (it was the last day to sign up), followed by some swift scurring about the city (soccer registration was in Midwest City). I had to pick up the girls from their art classes (in NW Oklahoma City) at noon sharp, but it was ten after before we got out of there. We then zipped over to their mothers to pick up their stuff and have them change real quick into dresses, as we had a wedding to attend. Or I say real quick anyway, but it didn't seem like it at the time.

By the time the girls were ready and we got on the road, it was after 12:30, and the wedding was to start at 1:00. For those of you familiar with Oklahoma City, our journey started in the vicinity of NW 19th and MacArthur, and our destination was NW 122nd and Council. Not impossible in the timeframe, but a bit of a challenge when considering that no one wants to noisily straggle into a wedding last minute.

We made it with maybe seven minutes to spare, and the wedding was a nice one. Probably the craziest thing to happen (as weddings go) was the bunch of us standing out in the cold, after the ceremony, with our little bubble makers, filling the air with bubbles for several minutes when it turned out that the bride and groom weren't even on their way yet. And one of the bridesmaids had broken a shoe, so she was standing barefoot on cold marble in 30-something degree weather, hopping about trying to keep her feet off the ground. (More wedding accounts can be read on the Usher's site)

Well, after all of that was done with, it was reception time, but the reception was at a separate location, back at NW 42nd and MacArthur (i.e. not so far from where we started). Since we took streets instead of highways, it took nearly as long to make this shorter trip than it did to make it to the chapel to begin with.

The reception went reasonably well, and the kids and I got to help "decorate" the bride's car with mostly traditional "Just Married" paraphernalia. I say mostly traditional because I'm not sure I've ever seen the creamy side of a split Oreo cookie used to decorate a car. That was the bride's father's idea, but the kids sure had fun doing it (and eating the leftovers).

Other reception highlights include Darby helping herself to a whole plate of mints after finishing her piece of wedding cake, and Shelby getting my punch after deciding that she liked it after all (her sister got each of them a cup of punch, only to have Shelby reject hers I guess on principle, only to have me tell Darby to drink both, only to have Shelby decide that she wanted to try some of mine therby determining that she liked it, followed by me just giving her the whole cup).

The bride is a young 22-year old, that I've known since she was 12. Her mother and I are very good friends from college (graduated together, had many of the same classes). In fact, Darby was the bride's mother's flower girl (second marriage) back when she was 3 years old. I'm told by the bride's (step)father that, while they are certainly supportive of the couple, they didn't think she was ready for marriage. Heck, I think they've only been dating for a year.

So in ponderance, both of this young marriage and my own, I'm thinking maybe there should be a "legal marriage age" the same way as there is a "legal drinking age". Of say... twenty-five. I'm thinking this might solve some real-world problems. (keep in mind the fact that I have two daughters has nothing to do with this rant -- wink wink)

First, this takes care of people getting married too young, perhaps quelling the very dire 50% divorce rate since by this age people are supposedly more wise and rational. Second, this relieves some pressure felt by many college girls fresh after graduation who have to decide "carreer or family". By knowing they have a few years to establish themselves before they can even consider getting married, they can be more focused on defining themselves and laying the ground work for a more successful life. Lastly, there is economic equilibrium as the young couple gets to suffer the marriage tax just as their better auto insurance rates kick in.

So since both of my daughters are less than twenty years from my proposed legal marriage age, I guess I should start my letter writing to senators and congressmen.