Wedding Bells Are Ringing

I knew the day would come, and I’m not looking forward to it. I love my children so much I hate to see them go, but let’s face it – it is fairly likely someday they will move out.

My son said this weekend he is ready for that day. He is going to propose to his girlfriend. They have been boyfriend and girlfriend for almost a year now, so he says it is time. May I remind you, he is now 6 years old.

On his day off this holiday weekend, I took him for a special trip to Arnold’s Family Fun Center in Oaks. We had a great time playing laser tag, driving go-karts and playing arcade games. Afterwards, we took our ticket winnings to the prize center, as usual.

After scouring racks of toys, candy and games, his eyes finally fixed on what he wanted to purchase with his tickets. He selected two rings. One had a gold thin band, with a pink single-stone setting. The second was a wider band, designed to be a “mood ring” without a stone.

He said that they were going to be his wedding rings. I asked why he needed them now. He said he was ready to propose.

While it all sounds hysterical to me, he is very serious when it comes to his ideas for his future, no matter how far-fetched from reality they may be. He is sincere in his wishes, and when he sets his mind to things, he usually carries through.

The rest of the car ride’s conversation went like this:

“Is there an age limit for getting married?” he asked.

“I don’t suppose so,” I responded. “But don’t you think you ought to wait?”

“Why wait?” he asked. “I want to have a wife.”

“Why a wife? What do you want her to do?”

“Well, I always wanted to have kids early. How great would it be to still be a kid and have kids?” he asked.

“Kids are a lot of work. Where will you live? How will you support your family?” I retorted.

“I can always quit school and get a job,” he said matter-of-factly.

My son said they’d live at our house, and his wife can visit her family “any time she wants.” He seems to have it all figured out, down to their wedding date and location.

“Maybe in four weeks. OK, it is a lot to plan for so maybe ten,” he said. “And, let’s see, I think we’ll get married on the beach. Oh, no, I know. We’ll have a dual wedding with Aunt Orla.”

Our family is scheduled to travel to Ireland this August to my sister-in-law’s nuptials. My son has decided it will be a dual wedding.

I’m not sure what his girlfriend is going to say; forget her family. My son insists at the very least this should get him into the Guinness Book of World Records if nothing else.