Monday, March 30, 2009

Marriage Penalty

Many of the readers of this blog know that last Saturday was supposed to be a pretty big day. The one that involved a white dress and a way-overpriced party. A lot people felt it was important for me to mark the day in a special way or be busy. Sorry folks- every day kinda sucks right now, and just because I was supposed to get married on a particular day doesn't make it any worse. I just bummed around on the rainy day. Just like I will do again on some days in the future.

At the time we cancelled the wedding, we didn't acknowledge it on the blog. I suppose some thought this was because it was too painful. Truth is, we didn't even have time to deal with it at the time it was all happening. A few quick phone calls and emails to vendors undid a few months of planning. My mom and dad graciously and discreetly stepped in to handle the rest- picking up the wedding dress, formally notifying the guest list, and worst of all- dealing with the gifts. To this day, I am not sure what happened to them. I think some are still at my parents house in-limbo.

I know people felt terrible about the whole situation. After all- a wedding is supposed to be one of the big three personal event that make a person's life complete in today's world... wedding, first home and kids. Truth is, the wedding planning gave me something to do for a couple of months while I was unemployed and while Dan was undergoing chemo. Even when we were planning, all of the things we focused the most time on were for other people- the gifts and special touches at the reception. In most ways, we knew the wedding wasn't really for us, but more like a big "thank you" to friends and family. And we had a lot to be thankful for with respect to our support system.

To this day, I don't really care about the wedding the way you readers probably think I do. Truthfully, it saved me a lot of money that ultimately allowed me to stay with Dan the last few weeks of his life and now to take time for myself. Sure, it was fun to plan, but I am a planner. I enjoy the process of planning most anything.

We did get a marriage license, and thought we'd go to the courthouse by ourselves when Dan had a good day. Well, he never felt well enough for us to go after that (which should tell you something), and it never really mattered to us that we weren't married. It certainly would've saved some headaches with respect to the fact that a fiancee has no legal rights, but we dealt with it the best we could in the time we had. Though it's a real kick in the shins to be told that, as a fiancee, you've got no rights and that legally, you're no different than the average schmo on the street.

As I was saying to the Boss Lady today, the only reason not having the wedding bothers me is that it was the one thing that cancer took from us during our time together. Until the very end, cancer never prevented us from traveling, working, running... basically enjoying a normal life. Dan & I were more than adament about having a normal life. I remember when we met with the priest the first time last April to schedule the wedding. When he learned that Dan was a cancer survivor, he asked us if we wanted to move the wedding up as opposed to having it in 11 months. You know- just in case. I remember Dan saying that we just wanted the normal process, and 12 months seemed like a good timeframe (we would've married 1 year and 1 week from the day we got engaged).

Would we have changed it if we'd known what was in store? Probably not, because after the cancer spread, the wedding ceased to be of any real importance, other than to have a big party for friends and family. And when it did spread back in late June, we didn't know what would really become of our relationship in some respects. We were optimistic, but realistic.

So yeah, I didn't get married. Cancer took away the party, and it irritates me just for the fact that Cancer got us on that one. I don't think it's as tragic as people would like to think. What would've been tragic... what if I decided that I couldn't hack it, and since I wasn't married, had no obligation to stick around for the tough stuff. People get divorced over illness. People leave. Dan's illness brought us full circle. No regrets.

So sorry if I seem emotionally detached from the whole topic of my wedding. I guess I don't buy into the traditional notion anymore that life begins when you say "I do". Not being married doesn't make the loss any easier. Being married wouldn't make the loss any easier either. I just find solace in the fact that I had a good love story. As Dan said to me "We had a good run". A pretty great run. Of course, I desperately wish that run was a lot longer, but man, what a wonderful ride no matter how short.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Meghan,
You are so grounded and so balanced with such healthy and strong values. You see the big picture clearly and seem to be hunkering into a mode of making it through this very hard time, doing what you need to do for yourself, but moving through it and onward. The wedding, the marriage certificate, the party--details of no consequence--while being in that loving and caring and present relationship with Dan is what mattered and what you committed to. We get it, witnessed it, and respect your choices and your attitude and your feelings about those choices. What you did and do now, think and write--well, it's all authentic and beautiful and praiseworthy.

cousin Paula

Anonymous said...

It was wonderful seeing you yesterday. As for the blog, it was beautiful, as usual. You guys were partners in every sense of the word. No legal paper needed.

Bob Waeger said...

“Love is patient; love is kind
and envies no one.
Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude;
never selfish, not quick to take offense.
There is nothing love cannot face;
there is no limit to its faith,
its hope, and endurance.
In a word, there are three things
that last forever: faith, hope, and love;
but the greatest of them all is love.” Love doesnt care what legal papers you need or what contract you have. Love doesnt care if you have cancer or are perfectly healthy. Love is something nobody can ever take from you. They can take away your wedding day, or take away your rights, but they cannot take away the love you shared. Thank you for Loving danny so much! You meant the world to him and we all truly appreciate the blog and your love for Danny.

PS.. Happy Birthday!

Best,
Bobby

Diane said...

Hi Meg,

Thank you so much for your words of support to Scott and to me. I will follow my gut and Scott's. We think about you and Dan every day. Dan is still giving us strength and courage. The only difference is that he now has long hair :) ... His other half is now taking up the challenge, under his guidance, of course. Dan helped me so much through my son's cancer journey. I never got to meet him, but I truly would love to meet you someday. I know Scott would love it too. We live in Vienna. My email is dhammond12@yahoo.com

With love and prayers for you,
Diane and Scott (and the Nickster ... woof! )

Anonymous said...

Right on, Bobby!

Anonymous said...

Lisa put it very well. Just based on this blog I could see that your partnership and love was stronger than many people ever achieve, and it doesn't matter what your legal paper status is.

TD