thegrabble.com

I sought the blessing of my (now)fiancee’s parents before popping the big question. And I’m so glad I did. The entire conversation was secretly recorded and you can listen to it here. Perhaps I should explain this ritual a little more, since it has of late become a less common practice. My intention was to state my intentions. The AoM website calls this ritual “Asking a Woman’s Father For Her Hand In Marriage” (a very helpful article, by the way).

Without reservation, I commend this tradition of seeking parental blessings to all men desiring the lifetime commitment of marriage. It was startling to hear myself say “I love Megan.” I didn’t expect it to be so jarring, so profound. I mean, it’s awfully easy to tell Meg that I love her. Yet I can’t put my finger down on a specific time (before the parental conversation) when I’ve told another person: “I love her.” It was an utterly new and glorious feeling. Try it. Though similar, “I love you” and “I love her” evoke different gut reactions. Nowadays this proud announcement of romantic love has a habit of quite simply rolling off my tongue. A very good thing indeed.