After a lovely wedding and reception held in the backyard of our home, my husband Paul and I departed for our wedding night. The destination was the bridal suite of a local hotel. Since we live in a pretty small town, there were only a couple of suitable choices.
I was duly impressed with my new husband’s selection, as he had reserved a room in the newest hotel in town. It was a nice, spacious room with a Jacuzzi spa. And what impressed me even more was the fact that my husband had stopped by earlier in the day, to prepare the room for our special night. Some of the personal touches he added were a bottle of champagne chilling on ice, champagne glasses, decadent chocolates and other associated romantic treats.
Since this was the third marriage for both of us, there wasn’t the usual eagerness that is associated with “the wedding night”. In addition to that was the fact that we were both of an age to be receiving AARP literature in the mail. But, being saps for love, here we were, hoping to prove that, indeed, the third time was the charm!
After checking out all the room’s amenities, I wondered what we were supposed to do next. Was this the part where I go and slip into something more comfortable? Luckily for me, Paul took the lead and offered me some champagne. Feeling a little of the new bride jitters, I gladly accepted.
As we were enjoying the champagne, I noticed a gift bag next to the bedside stand. I inquired as to what was in it and Paul said that it was a little present for me. I told him that I felt bad because I hadn’t gotten him anything. He told me not to worry, that it was really no big deal, and encouraged me to open the bag.
We sat on the edge of the bed, while I opened the little gift bag. Inside was an ornate magnifying glass. I pawed through the bag to see whether there was anything else in there to go with that piece. There was nothing. I was confused. What the heck was this for? I didn’t remember asking for anything like this.
I thanked him for the lovely magnifying glass but asked him, “What is this for?”
He said, “So you can read the inscription that is etched into the inside of your wedding ring.”
“He has got to be kidding me,” I thought. I couldn’t believe it. He was no doubt banking on me having a good sense of humor and that I wouldn’t take offense to the fact that he was implying that my eyes weren’t what they used to be. His daring and courageous gift made me laugh out loud.
After I had a moment to think about it, I thought that this was probably the sweetest thing that anyone had ever done for me. Not only did he have to take the time to come up with an appropriate inscription, he had to have taken it to a jeweler and then made sure that I had the tool to read it on our wedding night. I think this was positively charming and considerate.
Now, I was really curious to find out what was etched into the ring. It took a little doing to get the wedding band off but with somewhat nervous hands, I managed to hold the ring in my left and the magnifying glass in my right.
Since my fingers resemble sticks, making my ring size a 4 ¼, the diamond on the engagement ring had been dubbed the “skating rink” by my girlfriends because it is rather large. The wedding band looks and is pretty small in comparison. There isn’t much room to write on this ring. I would have never been able to see the inscription with my regular reading glasses. After a while, the etched words came into focus and I tried to discern what they meant.
Since the words kept going around the band in one continuous loop, and the writing wasn’t readily making sense to me, I had to first figure out where the message began. After turning the band back and forth a few times and assuming the inscription started after the “14 K” stamp, the words read:
Love Minus Zero / No Limit
“What the heck does that mean?” I thought. “Was it some kind of math problem?” Oh, wouldn’t that be just my luck. Math is my worst subject. Paul was anxiously but patiently watching my face, waiting for my response and I was trying desperately not to disappoint. I really didn’t want to start this marriage off on the wrong foot and pretend to know what it meant. I finally acquiesced and told him that “The saying is beautiful, but what does it mean.” He says that it is the name of a Bob Dylan song.
Again, just my luck, as I don’t speak Dylan either. Many people a lot smarter than me have tried for years to discern the meaning of Bob Dylan’s songs to no avail. I guess it is simply a subjective thing.
I figured that I must ascertain my own meaning out of this quote. I immediately decided that Paul was telling me that his love for me is absolute, unconditional, and boundless. Wow. That is amazing and the most wonderful kind of thinking a husband could have for his wife. I have never had any guy express his love to me in that way.
I was so filled with love and happiness that my little bit of new bride jitters had totally melted away and the wedding night proceeded to the next level and stayed that way for quite awhile. Paul and I never got back to finishing that bottle of champagne.
The next morning, we woke up starved, and in desperate need of some coffee. We decided to take advantage of the free continental breakfast provided by the hotel. We quickly dressed and headed down to the room where the breakfast was held. Though it was a small room, it adequately fit six tables to sit down and eat. We filled our coffee cups and plates and found a seat.
As we were enjoying the breakfast fare, I was noticing how easily Paul and I do things together. It seems almost effortless, no pressure or strain, simply easy. It is very enjoyable.
I told Paul, “I have to tell you something but I don’t want you to take offense to what I am about to tell you because I know some guys might view what I am about to tell you as offensive, but I don’t mean it that way at all. I only mean that what I am about to say is something that I truly mean in a good way and not at all in a bad way. Please don’t take this the wrong way and be offended.”
After that long, rambling extremely prefaced sentence, Paul was more than ready for me to just shut up and spit out what I was nervously trying to say.
So, I announced to him, “That was the BEST wedding night that I have ever had!” Paul busted out laughing and then I heard a few snickers from people sitting at the tables around us. I certainly didn’t mean for any of those other people to hear that and I turned beet red.
As I looked across the table at my new husband, who was grinning from ear to ear, his chest puffed out with pride, I thought, “He isn’t even remotely close to being offended by my statement.” I believe this one “gets” me.