MARRIAGE BRIDGES GENERATIONS WHO JOIN

What’s the best way to give newly weds the sort of advice they’ll need for a future together in marriage?

After the vows and rings, who is best equipped to deliver the last word in marriage?

Since weddings are so hectic it all turns into a blur of fiends and family, near and far, young and old, when is the right time to land a solid marriage blow newly weds will remember?

Why not the people driving the bride and groom back from the ceremony, dinner, and dance in their carriage?

It helps to follow uncles and aunts moving into their 40th anniversaries this year. But what’s the right thing to say to impressionable young folks?

“The people in the red truck have eighty years of marriage between them. Your parents have thirty.

“Do the math and it’s over a hundred years. They know stuff that only comes with time. You’ve been married a few hours now and you know things already that people who’ve never been married can only guess at.

“Getting married in your early twenties, getting married before any brothers or sisters or friends, means you’re the example they’ll be watching, so set a good one.

“I saw you two navigate the day like you knew what you were doing. That’s the best sign. Both families came away with the love you brought. I’ve seen a few weddings, been best man a few times, but in all that experience I can’t remember feeling like two people meant what they said the way you both did.

“You made it your wedding day in a way that warmed the hearts of anyone doubting marriage. Seeing the way you two cruised through the ceremonial obstacle course made me love my wife even more.

“Some people see marriage as a challenge to bring the best of what you think your partner needs every day. Sometimes two people see it the same way. That’s what I see in you two, a willingness to move heaven and earth, split the sea, and climb to the top of the marriage mountain.

“What will you see when you get there? Your uncles and aunts, mom and dad, that’s who. Making a marriage work isn’t like real work. You don’t punch the clock, turn in expense reports, take vacation time off. Instead, you share it all. All of the time, money, and places you’ll see, you’ll see together.

“Even if you’re not in the same place at the same time, I’ve got a feeling you’ll be a married couple who’ll think, ‘This would be way better if my spousal unit was here, too.’

Romantic? I know.