Do you ever wish to be young again? A recent trip to Kiawah Island where Chris and I honeymooned almost 34 years ago had me pondering that very question and my answer came up to be an emphatic no. I love where I am in middle age and I love the adventures that I have had and have yet to have.
Do I pine for some of the things of the past? Occasionally but if I were truthful I would have to say that I am just happy to be who I am today.
A conference found us back at the site of our brief honeymoon and I had to admit I was excited to be back. When we got married we had a week before Chris had to report for duty at the Naval Training Center in Orlando, Florida so our honeymoon spot was chosen to be a spot enroute with our jam packed car. The first night after we got married we stayed in a Hilton in Columbus, Ohio which I believe has now since closed. What do I remember about that night? Well, this is not “that kind” of blog but I do distinctly remember having the bellman take virtually all of our stuff out of the back seat because Chris was afraid his uniforms would get stolen. Oh we were so young and naive.
We found ourselves staying in a lovely villa and with only a couple of days to enjoy the amenities we did what we could. We saved up our hunger (and money) for one meal at the really top notch restaurant on site. Unfortunately that was the night I found out that I was allergic to scallops…
But probably the best story that came out of that stay at Kiawah Island was the story of the red flashing light. When we left Ohio we left our belongings that were going to be picked up by the moving truck in our absence and moved to Orlando. We had stored everything with Chris’s parents and had a nice pile of “stuff” that was to be packed up and delivered. We left right after the reception so there was no time to open wedding gifts. We planned that they would just be packed and sent on the truck. It was not a big deal to us. There weren’t going to be that many gifts and we could certainly wait for them to be opened later.
But Chris’s mom had other ideas. As she looked at that stack of presents she felt uneasy about having them packed up without knowing what was in them. So she called us. On our honeymoon. And we were oblivious. Oh sure we saw that flashing red light on the phone but had no clue what it was. I remember saying “that light is flashing” a couple of times. but let’s face it – we were 22 and on our honeymoon and we had other things on our minds.
Flash away little red light. Flash away.
After we arrived in Orlando we called our families to let them know we had made it safely. Chris’s mom then relayed to us that she had opened our wedding gifts and recorded what was in each package.
Thud.
Yes. You read that correctly. If we had only answered that red flashing light on the phone we would have known this was the plan. I think I would have told her emphatically NO.
34 years later I take pure joy in opening any kind of present because I did not have the opportunity to open our wedding gifts with my husband and enjoy the entire experience. I understood why she did it but I must admit it was sort of a thing I never really got over. If only we had known about the flashing red light, right?
So as I sit in our villa at Kiawah Island some 34 years later I am reminded of that story, of how young and naive I was and how I am honestly glad that I am the age that I am and not that young 22 again. Midlife has its advantages.
One of those is knowing what that doggone flashing red light on the phone means.
29 Comments
Leave a commentI agree…I would not want to be young again! Times, and with it, we have changed! And WOW on the wedding present part of the story! Your heart must have sank!!!
It was a difficult thing to wrap my head around. ?
OMG! I can;t believe she did that….
I wouldn’t want to be young again either…
?. Yep. It’s true.
Hmmmm…. I know I shouldn’t say this, not knowing your MIL. But, having known some other “MIL’s, that part about worrying about shipping the gifts unopened may not have been entirely the motive.
And speaking of that, my MIL actually opened my FIL’s birthday cards one year while he was out in the yard with his party guests. Yep, saw it with my own eyes.
Sorry that happened to you though.
I think you hit the nail on the head on that one!
Oh, MIL:) Fun to hear these early Beth-Chris stories. Had no idea you were allergic to scallops too!
Are we related or not? ?
On the topic of opening wedding gifts…back 34 years ago, it was the custom here in Minnesota for the bride and groom to open just a few gifts at the reception and then have someone else open them. I regret that we caved to that time-honored tradition. Like you, I would have preferred to open our gifts ourselves once we returned from our honeymoon.
Also, we had some left-over wedding cake and I asked my mom to freeze it. She didn’t. She served it to guests who had traveled from out-of-state for the wedding. Sigh.
On the subject of age, for me it’s not age that determines whether I am content, but rather what is going on in my life.
I never knew that was even a thing ! It wasn’t in Ohio– just my MIL interjecting herself in our lives. ?
Well…I wish I was about 20 years younger. Maybe 10. But then I wouldn’t be retired so I guess,after all, that I’m fine being right where I am.
Oh yes— you need to be right where you are at! Happily retired!
Oh my! I’m pretty sure i would never have gotten over not getting to open my wedding presents either! Love the story though and I’m so glad you and Chris got a few days away!!
Yea— it was difficult to accept obviously since I am still talking about it 34 years later…..
I am happy where I’m at too. I feel like I’ve gained some wisdom 😉 That’s so sad you never got to open your wedding presents!
It is a good thing to love where you are at. And yes– very sad we did not open our gifts— some day we will have another wedding to open presents.
No. No. I lived a full ups and downs life, there’s no way I’d want to do it again. My husband thinks being a vampire and living forever would be awesome, I don’t think so. I think I understand why we do go on. Simply, my ride has been bittersweet, but when He’s ready for me to come home, I’m ready!
What a wonderful outlook! Now as for your husband and his vampire wish? Not for me. I faint at the sight of blood. ?
Hahaha this was particularly amusing for me. Thanks for cracking me up. 🙂
Always here to amuse!
This is very funny, Beth Ann!T
I have two comments:
1) I remember starting at my very first job after college at Goldman Sachs in lower Manhattan and not having a clue how to use the fancy telephone on my desk, so know you were not alone!
2) My wedding – we were living on the 31st floor of an apartment building in NYC right next to a church. We got married at the church and went upstairs to our apartment for our reception – we had a 13″ x 30″ terrace and that’s where we had the reception (it was a small wedding). We had a wedding cake, obviously, and when everyone had a piece I saw there was some leftover which I had planned to freeze and eat a year later (as tradition dictated). After everyone left I looked for the cake to put in the freezer and couldn’t find it. Turns out my sister-in-law Susan cut it up and wrapped up the pieces to give to people as they left! I was totally furious! This is just the kind of thing my crazy sister-in-law does…….
Great stories, Marci! I think your cake story is one of the best ones!!!
I’m very glad to be done with high school, college, the early years of marriage and parenthood, etc. Not that I wasn’t happy or fulfilled but I’m content where I am today: 36 year marriage, two grandkids (hopefully more to come), wonderful relationships with my kids and their significant others. I don’t look back in regret for even a minute. I enjoy my life to the fullest, as it is, right now.
I think it is a lovely thing when we love where we are at in life. Good for you!
Quite happy to be where I am also! Although that doesn’t mean that I would not love to revisit some old haunts from back in the day and maybe act like a teenager for a little while. LOL
Then again, I think I do pretty much most of the things I did then anyway… I just drag 3 children along now. It’s pretty cool to stay in touch with all the things that were your first loves, and then share them.
I love your attitude! It is a perfectly great way to live!
I said to a cashier (an older lady) at the grocery store the other day that I wouldn’t want to be a young person growing up in the world today, she smiled and agreed with me completely.
I agree, too!
I was waiting for this kind of topic. Thank you very much for the post.