My Wedding Night

[soulan]

An excerpt from "My Life" by Ennis Del Mar as told to Soulan and annotated by Jack Twist.

Comments

[soulan]

My cousin's daughter grew up in Wyoming and the way she tells it, lots of kids learn to ride as a matter of course so I could imagine Alma being open to going out for a ride with her new husband, to share something he likes to do. Only later, when Jack arrives on the scene, would she understandably resent that pastime. And I see as Ennis trying to do what was expected but not feeling the passion, especially when the things she says and does reminds him of Jack. (One thing I love in the FNIT is when Jack's hand slips as he's pulling off his jacket.)

Better Than Mine

[ohiomyown]

It sounds much better than mine; we went to Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and a hurricane offshore brought colder weather than we were expecting . . so no beach and no snow for sledding. We tried to be tourists, but that fell flat. I'd rather go sledding with Ennis.

Thanks for this insight into that time of their lives, very interesting take. Still funny in how innocent (ignorant?) they were of marriage and honeymoons.

Re: Better Than Mine

[soulan]

Cuban Missile Crisis??! What were you, a child bride? (I've seen you in a photo from one of the Brokie gatherings and no way could you have been the age of Ennis and Alma when you got married.)

Re: Better Than Mine

[ohiomyown]

Well aren't you sweet? I was 20 and my groom was 25 in 1962. I am actually about 1 or 2 years older than Ennis and Jack . . my marriage lasted until 1979, whereas Ennis could only hold out till 1975. I really relate to these guys, and I think our age is one of the reasons.

I've been to a ton of Brokeback gatherings, so you're likely to see my picture all over the place. *smile*

Thanks again for writing this series. I'm really enjoying it.
Judy

[tmn1966]

It would be very interesting to actually hear Ennis telling his life to someone. I would imagine it would take a long time just to get this information, as I'm sure there was a lot of coughing and throat clearing and fiddling with a cigarette (or many cigarettes).

And what does Ennis think of Jack's notes, I wonder.

Wonderful update. Thanks! :)

Teri

[soulan]

Had to drag the story out of him yard by yard. ;) And he doesn't know about Jack's notes.

[sienata]

that is an awfully depressing sounding honeymoon, but it goes right along with their depressing lives. so very sad. i'm glad jack's was a little better at least. his life always seemed nicer on the outside, but i think it was actually worse on the inside.

love these excerpts. s.

[soulan]

Well, at least they seemed to have an OK time sledding the next day.

[rt_in_town]

Aww. Ennis let her down gently, more than he did for Jack. :( Jack wants to jump up and down and scream "of course he's done this before", but Ennis can't even acknowledge him. Well he might technically be right, unless he flipped Alma over that night also :) oh wait :(

[soulan]

Yay, someone got the "let her down gently" line. Of course it would be you. ;)

I can just picture him pondering: have I or haven't I? When I decided to write a wedding night scene, I automatically thought of having him flip her but that seemed to obvious. I don't believe he would've done that right off the bat. I think he tried to do everything the "right way" (carrying her over the threshold for starters) but it wasn't what came naturally to him. And then of course they were too broke to go somewhere warm, and everything she said and did reminded him of Jack. :'(