Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

A Surprise Wedding

By Don Flynn

Over the years, my wife, Sue, expressed interest in renewing our

wedding

vows. It was not something she talked about frequently, but she brought it

up

on such special occasions as weddings or anniversaries.

Like most macho men, I believed that once was enough. But as time

passed,

since it still seemed important to her, I began to relent: " Honey, I might

consider it someday, but only if it's just you and me - maybe on vacation

somewhere. " (I really didn't need an audience for something like this.)

Then, four years ago, Sue had a cancerous mole removed from her leg.

The

diagnosis: malignant melanoma.

My attitude at that time was that the mole wasn't so bad. After all,

it

was removed and the cancer was gone. I knew little, however, about this

cancer's ability to resurface.

In November, Sue found a new lump on the same leg as before - it turned

out

to be a swollen lymph gland - and the biopsy again revealed malignant

melanoma.

Sue went in for surgery and had numerous lymph glands removed from her leg

and

abdomen. The doctors had good news: The cancer had not spread beyond the

two

lymph glands - the one that was swollen and one next to it.

One week after Sue's diagnosis, however, her father was diagnosed with

cancer - not the best week my wife has ever had.

In December of that year, like every year, I struggled with what to get

my

wife for Christmas, but even more than usual. Sue always said that she

wanted

" something personal. " When the cancer returned, it made me think long and

hard

about what our future might be like. I wondered about what I might get her

for

Christmas that would be personal, show her how much I loved her and express

what

she means to me and to our family.

I'm the kind of guy that thinks of grand things I would like to do for

my

wife but rarely gets around to doing them. That year I really searched my

soul

- and the thought of renewing our wedding vows suddenly took on more

meaning.

This was a way to show her I truly wanted to do it all over again.

Then I thought of the verse " In sickness and in health " and began to

cry.

I'm glad I was alone.

Even with all Sue had been through - and maybe because of it - she

wanted

to host Christmas Eve at our house this year. It was only going to be a

small

group of relatives. It seemed to me that this would be the perfect time to

renew our vows, so I recruited , my sister-in-law, to help me. I

called

everyone and told them to come two hours early. I said I had a surprise for

Sue

but didn't tell anyone what it was. I didn't want this gift to be spoiled.

I called on our neighbor, Jean Partridge, a justice of the peace. We

had

never really stopped and talked or gotten to know one another, and I hoped

she

would be willing to come over on Christmas Eve. She said she was busy that

night and had to arrive at her daughter's house by six o'clock. My heart

sank.

As I turned to walk away, Jean asked, " Why do you need a justice of the

peace on

Christmas Eve, Don? "

" I want to get married to my wife again, " I answered. " It's a surprise

wedding. " I hesitated, then asked, " Do you think you could marry us at four

o'clock and still be on time for your daughter's Christmas Eve celebration? "

I

told Jean what the ceremony meant to me and would mean to my wife at this

particular time. I told her about Sue's health problem. I explained all

this

so in case I started to cry, she'd understand why. After that, she said

that

she might have to toss down a shot to calm her nerves before the wedding,

too.

" I'll be there at four, " she smiled.

A great wave of joy swept over me. I had found a way to show how much

I

loved Sue - and this time, instead of just thinking about it, I was going to

make it happen.

I finally found something unique and meaningful to give my wife on

Christmas. The only other people I told were Sue's parents, since I really

wanted them to be there. When they heard the plan, there was only silence

on

the phone for a few long moments. Then Sue's dad, who had his good and bad

days

due to his own illness, declared in an emotional voice that he would be

there no

matter how he was feeling.

I realized that I also needed fluff - or should I say, some schmaltz -

all

the details that women think of and men usually don't consider. I had my

youngest son, Shaun, get a song off the Internet - the same song that was

played

in church when we were married twenty-three years earlier. made a CD

for

me so I could play it when she walked in the door. Oh, and flowers - I got

a

wristlet for Sue, a flower for my lapel and two poinsettias for the mantel.

And

I got a cake, champagne, glasses, boxes and boxes of Kleenex, and disposable

cameras. I even bought some special rings.

In the flower shop, a small snowman statue caught my eye. I picked it

up

and saw that it was some sort of jewelry holder. This snowman had a small

sign

he was holding and on that sign was the word " hope. " I thought how perfect

it

was, and my eyes welled up with tears again. I've been crying a lot,

lately,

for a macho man.

That afternoon, everything was in place. , my sister-in-law, took

Sue

out to visit a sick relative. When she returned, she looked puzzled to see

everyone at our home two hours early. After all, she had to get the food

ready

for our guests.

" What's going on? " she asked, a little upset.

The rest I'm going to leave to your imagination.

Just picture this: Our wedding song begins to play, people are taking

pictures of Sue and me, and the tears and champagne are beginning to flow.

And I said, " Honey, Merry Christmas. I love you. Will you marry me

again

tonight? "