So, now we go for the learner's permit?
Sixteen years ago I got up before dawn so I could watch the sun rise.
I drove over to the castle about 11. We had it rented from noon until 7. So, I was worried when I saw a tour bus in the parking lot unloading a crowd of people.
“They’re not staying, are they?” I asked the event manager.
“Don’t worry, we’ll have them out by noon,” he told me. “Go set up your stuff on the back lawn.”
I did. I came back out front at noon to see him leading two women away by their arms.
“I don’t see why we have to leave!” one of the women said.
“The museum closes today at noon for a private rental,” he said.
“But, we didn’t get to see everything,” the second woman said.
“We encourage you to come back at a future time,” he said.
“But, we paid to get in!” the first woman said just as they were going past me.
“You each paid $5,” he said. “This man here paid $3000.”
They looked at me.
“Hi,” I said.
The first woman gave a little sniff, then they continued up to the parking area.
“I still think we should get to see more of the castle,” she said.
“I told you we were only open until noon when you arrived,” the manager said.
I went and got ready.
A few hours later everything was set up and my wife’s uncle escorted her down the stairs onto the back lawn.
It is true that the “altar” we used was made of milk crates. But, most of the folks couldn’t tell that at the time.
But, what the altar was made of wasn’t really the important part.
And, it was a good time. It would be good if there was some other way to have that gathering of people we cared about and cared about us.
So, now that we’ve been married for 16 years, does our marriage get to drive? I’m not buying it a car, or van, but does it get a learner’s permit or what?
