By Lorraine C. Lordi
May 02, 2008 06:45 am This morning, the sun is beaming. The grass is greening. The birds are competing cheerfully for which flock can sing the loudest. If only for today, spring has graced us with her presence. We all feel it in our bones. And our hearts. Even people driving to work look happier today. No one sports that gloomy, winter face where you stare straight ahead as if life has nothing more to offer than this same old boring drive on these same bleak brown streets. But not on a morning like this. This morning, kids hopscotch at bus stops. People roll down their windows. Sun roofs pop open. Sunglasses beam back rays from the heavens. And strangers actually smile as they let a fellow driver turn in front of them. For some reason, though, my friend Jane isn't her usual, smiling self. The minute I walk into work and see her face, I can tell something is wrong. Well, not wrong really. But certainly not quite right. Especially not on what is one of the most glorious spring days we've had in nearly a year. "Is it Alice?" I ask. "Is she all right?" Alice lives in Florida now, and Jane has gone down to visit her twice this past winter. They've been good visits, but Alice didn't seem quite her old self the last time Jane went down. She seemed, as Jane said, a bit preoccupied. In another world. Like there was something she really wanted to talk to Jane about but couldn't quite find the right words. "Alice is all right," Jane says. Then she lowers her voice and adds, "But not really." Is she sick, I ask. Jane shakes her head. Lonely? Jane shakes her head again and laughs. "No, in fact, she actually has a new boyfriend." "A boyfriend?" I say. "Well, that's nice. Isn't it?" "I'm really happy for her," Jane says. "But the thing is, now she wants to get married." "Well, is he nice? Have you met him?" Yes, Jane says. She and her husband know Malcolm. He and Alice have been friends for several years. Malcolm has lived out in the world on his own for quite a while. And like Alice, he owns his own place and seems comfortable with who he is. Most importantly, he genuinely loves Alice. And she loves him that much, too. "Then what's the problem?" I ask. "The problem is they want to get married right away. Like on May 13." "You mean, in two weeks?" Yes, Jane sighs. Alice called her over the weekend and told her she had made up her mind. They're going to get married, and no, they don't want a big wedding so Jane doesn't have to plan or worry about anything. In fact, Alice said she doesn't even want any family members to come down for the ceremony. She and Malcolm just want to tie the knot and start their lives together. Later, their families and close friends can have a party and celebrate with them. "I would love to help her with all the arrangements," Jane sighs. "But Alice was born stubborn. She has never listened to any advice I tried to offer her. She isn't asking her girlfriends what they think, either. She just hangs out with Malcolm. I don't know why they can't wait at least until summer." Because it's spring, and love is blooming. Alice and Malcolm remind me of all young lovers. They're like Harry and Sally who finally got married once they realized old friends make terrific mates. Or like Romeo and Juliet, who felt love connect their hearts the second their eyes met and their sweaty palms touched. "You know, Jane," I say, "if the adults in that play had put their own fears aside and supported that starry-eyed couple, that story would have had a happy ending." "I know," Jane sighs. "But I still wish they would wait. What's the rush?" "How old is Alice again?" I ask. "My mom is 87," Jane says. "Malcolm's younger. 83 or 84." That might explain why these young-at-heart lovers are in such a hurry.
Lorraine Lordi lives in Londonderry. To order her collections of Derry News columns or sign up for one of her writing workshops, go to www.plumriverpress.com.
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