The Daily Postscript

I was reading the newspaper this morning when I chanced upon a feature about a marriage proposal witnessed by the crowd at the international airport. From what I remember, he's a nurse and she's a flight attendant. He proposed with a brass quintet singing their theme song, "Swept Away", while carrying her favorite flowers - yellow roses and calla lily. A tarpaulin was then rolled down by friends inscribed with "Will you marry me?". She said "yes", of course.

According to the report some were teary eyed as they watched the couple. The crowd asked for a kiss which the lovers obliged to do. The audience clapped. Just like in the movies. Everything on cue.

Cute. Kudos to the man for the effort. And to the girl for being so appreciative. Maybe appreciative is an understatement. Maybe they both want to jump with joy.

Just a thought on public marriage proposals not referring to this particular event. What if the girl does not want to get married yet? What if she has other plans? What if it was a decision made because the girl is in a state of euphoria? She is just too caught up in the moment and the "right" thing to say is a resounding "yes"? Isn't it that we should not be making critical decisions when emotions are running high?

Suffice to say a man will only propose publicly if he knows the woman wants to get married also. Maybe no man in his right mind will take chance and be humiliated if the girl looked indifferent or there is a chance she will say "no". It's a sure ball. The proposal needs to have some drama to emphasize the man's desire to live with her as man and wife, to declare to the whole world this is how much I love my girl. They are definitely talking about marriage already. The signal is clear. They are both ready to tie the knot. He will definitely not get a "no" for an answer. He then becomes the knight in shining armor gallantly declaring his love for her to everyone who cares to listen. And their story will be handed down within their clan and their neighborhood and their offices and their hometowns from generation to generation. They could even land a full length feature in magazines and television shows. Neat. Perfect.

Hey, I love happy endings but what if the girl change her mind after a few days, weeks or months? What if, by some stroke of fate, she meets another man who sweeps her off her feet. Or he meets another and realizes this is the woman he wants to live with for the rest of his life. Fate has a nasty sense of humor sometimes.

Marriage proposals, getting married - they are one big, exciting, breath taking, life changing moment in our lives. Just that sometimes cupid decides to play, there's a risk we all have to take. Marriage or getting married is a calculated risk.