I guess there was a wedding today, or so I am told.  It seems that a Prince across the pond took a bride.  Quite an affair I understand.  Lots of dignitaries and thousands of common folk, anxious to see  them and more importantly, to be seen.  Limousines, horse drawn carriages, mounted military, and enough pomp and circumstance to please even the most casual royal watcher.

But somehow it pales in comparison to another wedding I attended.  I was 22 and she was 18.  The cathedral must have been booked as we were married in the vestibule of our local Methodist Church. I didn’t walk her down the aisle as there wasn’t one.   My uniform was a cheap suit (my only suit actually, purchased for the occasion).  My bride wore a white dress, sans train or veil. I thought she was beautiful (still do).  Throngs (maybe 20) of commoners attended the wedding.  Actually it was members of her family and mine.  The ceremony was followed by a gala reception consisting of the same 20 people going to my brides house. Congratulations fell like confetti, even from those that were quietly saying this union would probably only last a year. Champagne flowed freely from the case sitting on the porch and being watched closely by my father in law to assure, how should I say this, equal distribution.

By late afternoon, we left for the first leg of our ‘honeymoon’ consisting of her father giving us a ride to the downtown hotel where we had booked a room for our first night together.  The following morning we embarked on the second leg by getting a ride with my new wife’s aunt and uncle to their house in Maine where we spent the next two nights.  We then took a bus  to Bangor, a trip of about 32 miles, since I had to be at work the following day.

Somehow the whole affair was overlooked by both the press and the media.  We just kind of blended into the populous and started trying to figure out what to do next.  We did the things we thought were right and struggled as most do to work out the kinks.  We argued, agreed, cried, laughed, and told each other we loved them every day.  We stayed busy and faithful, not noticing the years going by, or how much we had come to depend on each other.  We just held each others hand and explored the next tomorrow.

I guess we got more things right then we did wrong as we are still together today.  So I feel I can speak with some authority when I propose a toast to Harry and Meghan. ” I raise a cup (actually a long neck) to you as you embark on your future together.  May you find comfort in the knowledge that the bond, begun today, will only become stronger.  That the days you share will be chronicled by the memories stored in your hearts. May the ‘you’ in each of you become the ‘us’ in both of you. May the vows you took today become your legacy.  And may you both know the joy of loving each other for 56 years, as have we”.  Salute.