I share this happy news with you as a reminder that love often comes when you least expect it. And it's never too late.
We kept it as a surprise to all but family, but I want you to know that on Saturday evening at 5:30 at my older son's apartment I married William Cleaton Lewis, Jr. in Manhattan. My younger son, who is an artist and professor -- but also a marriage officiant who can perform services -- married us. He included words from my late husband's prayerbook, an especially moving consecration.
On Friday night, younger son prepared a "rehearsal dinner" at his uptown apartment. He cooked filet of beef and then my family roasted and toasted us.
The background song playing at that party was “Wedding Bell Blues” (with the relevant line “Will you marry me, Bill?”).
The wedding was simple, as we decided to go ahead with this quite recently and had previously planned to elope: My two granddaughters were flower girl and ring bearer— the flowers from the grocery down the block. The girls sang us a little song about love. My brother-in-law played the violin and we walked from the bedroom, down the hall to stand in front of the little library nook off the main room.
Although the service was non-denominational, the girls painted a cloth which served as a chuppah over our heads. Bill stepped on a glass to end the short ceremony with "mazel tovs."
There were eighteen of us – family only, except for two lifelong friends. All siblings came, from Maine to California. All our children were there. We laughed alot and shed some tears as well.
After the ceremony we all walked through the Chelsea Market, 10 minutes away, to an urban waterfall (an open pipe) and we tossed gold coins in the well for good wishes.
Then a five- minute walk to del Posto, Mario Batali’s restaurant under the High Line, for a five-course wedding dinner at a round table, with lots of laughter and toasts and stories.
I first met Bill in April, 2009, ironically, about a week after I wrote"Why I’m Alone," the viral post celebrating my singledom.
It took me a few months to catch up with his affections, but when I did it was full-blast. He's a wonderful man.
We've been happily living together since January, and as a twice-married 60-something I just wasn’t expecting or even desiring another marriage. But Bill wanted to marry me. And unexpected as that was, I got to like the idea.
If I had taken Bill’s name I would have become Lea Bussey Lane Stern Lewis. Like a wannabe movie star from the 1950s, and a bit too Zsa-Zsa.
So I’ll stick with Lea Lane. Or Mrs. Bill Lewis.
There is one problem: What am I going to do with my website, sololady.com? I guess after a life of so many ups and downs, that's a problem I can deal with.
Bill says I should place a note over the banner: "Closed for business. Married!"
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Comments
I am so happy for you and I'm wondering if my former Graduate Assistant married you. I love NY this time of year, and I'll bet you see flowers in some of the postage stamp gardens.
Best wishes and happiness to you always!!
RRRRR!!!!!
R
Sláinte.
. . and your headline just killed me . .
Congrats!!!!!
Regarding your web site, you can always change the name to: www.not-sololady-anymore.com.
How romantic. Congratulations to you both.
Take your website and morph it into how us *more mature* empty nesters might travel. Married or not, your views will still resonate. {{{R10}}} ((((You&Bill))))
R
Never mind. Congrats. May you be fruitful and multiply.
Congratulations Lea!!!
www.not-so-solo lady.com
Champagne wishes and caviar dreams...hurray.
Lezlie
I'm very happy for you and Bill and Lea, you sly, unsingle woman! May this marriage bring both of you joy and good company!
ummmm, does Bill know how long two of your "marriages" lasted? ;o)
Huge congratulations to you and Bill on your wedding. What a blessing to have your son perform the ceremony for you.
May your life together be more wonderful than either of you ever could have dreamed and may each year following be even more wonderful still.
Happiness could not have found a more deserving and grateful recipient than yourself.
Rated and Celebrated!.
PS Time to write Why I'm Not Alone
Yeah, I'll second the 'solongsololady.com' idea ;).
Rated for sentiment and love can happen anytime/anywhere.
Congratulations.
Having met the delightful Bill, I'm just very happy for you as he is all that he appears, an extraordinary man. xo
Best wishes to Mr & Mrs Bill Lewis!
And here I was, after reading the title, about to quote Tom Lehrer: "He loved his mother like no other."
Congratulations!
Woo Hoo! {happy dance}
I'm already on the job solving your website dilemma. I think you should make it about transitions, from independence to coupledom. Or you might make it about later life marriage. You might represent a demographic out there that is not represented and that needs some representation and encouragement.
Linked to MTK's website?
Again, Mazel tov!
D
Congratulations and best wishes to you both!
(No-longer-solo Lea, that is. :-)
May you be showered in blessings. Congratulations!!!
What wonderful news and a great story of how you fell in love. Best wishes and many blessings for a very happy life together.
V
XOXOXO
r
You look marvellous, happy.
And yes before I forget in my excitement, CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Wonderful news!
Your son must be proud, too and inspired.
Rated–– to put it mildly.
I've been single for many years until recently. I'm feel like a kid learning to ride a bike because I have a hard time knowing how to be in a relationship. But the ride is exciting and wonderful all the same.
Your story makes me feel like there is hope for me yet. I've been married and divorced once, but I would very much like to be a wife again. I'm good at it. It sounds like you are, too.
Monte
Yay Lea! all joy and belly laughs and sweetness and tenderness and wry smiles and friendship and romance to you both, forever!
Thinking...thinking...nope nothing yet, viz sololady alternatives. I sense there MUST be something dang clever that will stick , though!
Wait...
...soul-o-lady? (calypso vacations?)
...sol-low ladies (for women who need some sun?)
...sololady (but add tagline "or not, even!")
Nope. Nothin...I got nothin.
So happy. You two look radiant up there!
congratulations on the wonderful news!
or you might not use the word lady....anyway. I'm sure it'll work out somehow.
muchas congratulations!
A suggestion?
www.soluckylady.com
(PS - I have to say, he just plain looks like a good guy. Beautiful picture of you both.)