We Know People Get Stressed Out Before Their Weddings....
Joe Gandelman
....but this...(?)
UPDATE: This short piece from the Atlanta Constitution is truly haunting and says a lot about the story linked above:
Pastor Alan Jones, who was to have married the couple today, briefly addressed the media Saturday morning.
” John [Mason, Jennifer Wilbanks’ fiance] is a man of faith and he said just an hour ago, everyone has a right to make a mistake. There’s still a lot of pain. No one in this house had any idea that Jennifer was a runaway bride. Jennifer needs help.
“John Mason will not talk to the media for a couple of days” because he’s so tired.
He said he did not know about any future wedding plans.
“Remember what we were praying yesterday, let her be a runaway bride.”
This story is truly a tragedy. It's clear this young woman had no idea that her story would get this kind of massive attention. And, you can be sure, she had no idea people would be torn up over her disappearance and claims she had been kidnapped. Just when you think you've seen every twist on a news story you realize: there are still some surprises out there.
On TV they're speculating as to whether the couple will eventually marry. It would appear to be difficult -- but then, as we said above, there are always surprises.
Let's all of us butt out of this woman's life and the lives of both the families involved. Maybe she will marry him at some point. Or maybe she won't. But whatever happens, these people are not politicians, movie stars, sports stars or royalty. So let's just leave them alone to enjoy or suffer the aftermath of their Warholish 15 minutes of fame.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Since I was a friend of the groom, I decided cowardice was the better part of valour and left. I called my buddy several times after that, but he had seemed to disappear off the face of the earth.
About fifteen years later, I'm on Fifth Avenue around Christmas time and I hear my name called. It's my long lost friend and he has two kids with him who I figure are about 12 or 13 years old. While I'm talking to him, my mind is racing with, "Is this guy crazy?", "Where the hell has he been?" "Who's the mother?" "Is there a contract out on his stupid ass?"
Suddenly, he looks past my shoulder and says,"Here's my wife." I turn around and see that it's the bride, who I last saw crying her eyes out in the back of the church. Plus, she is accompanied by a child of about ten years of age, has a toddler by the hand, and has one in the oven.
Mr. Runaway Groom says to the Bride," You remember Patch, he was at our wedding." At that point I made some hurried excuses, told them I was in the phone book, and melted into the crowd.
It was just too nutty for me.