Why yes, good sir, I would love to marry you.
Mawwage. It is the thing to do these days ;-). In my new ward, it seems that everyone is getting married, and I kind of love it. My first weekend here we went to a wedding and ate lots of meatballs. It was fantastic. I didn't know a soul beyond my own roommies, so I felt a bit like a poser, but whateva. Strangers always show up at weddings (if you need proof, see President Monson's most recent priesthood talk).
I went to another wedding too a month or so ago and got so into the mood of it all that I started proposing to all of my roommates. See, Utah has not yet gone the way of New York, so my friends encouraged me to shift my affections to the many lovely and available young men at the wedding. One even offered to pay me six dollars to propose to one of them. Unfortunately, a four-year-old pulled the ring out of the cake (a Peruvian tradition similar to catching the bouquet), and I didn't want to put myself out there and get disappointed. (When the little girl got the ring, a girl in my ward said, in her beautiful Russian accent, "She's getting married first? Great, there is no hope for any of us.")
One of my roommates did the flowers for an upcoming wedding in our ward, and it was so fun to have ribbons and flowers and boutonnieres and bouquets and whatnot everywhere.
I really wanted to steal the bouquet, the one that the bride is supposed to throw to all the single ladies.
[I know you want to dance. All the single ladies, all the single ladies, woah woah woah]
But I didn't. I don't think that would improve my chances of getting married.
Speaking of marriage, did you know that is the point of singles wards? What? That is really the purpose behind every activity and event. Of course, being spiritually fed and having fun and building lasting friendships and whatnot is important, too. But our leaders spend so much time and money on activities and such because I think they hope that someone, somewhere in the stake or ward will get married.
I think its working in my ward, hahaha. Good thing I moved here ;-)
In my last ward, the ward council debated whether or not to have a ward directory. By the time they decided to make one, the semester was almost over, and may people were soon to leave. When it was suggested that they wait until summer, a counselor in the bishopric said, "If this produces even one marriage, it will be more than worth it." So, yes, "ward menu" is an accurate term. ;-)
When I moved into my new ward, my bishop asked me about my dating life. He was like, "so what, do you go on dates at all?" He was very interested, as one in his position should be, I suppose. Well, its not terrible these days, but really nothing to brag about. When I got asked on a date recently, I told everyone I know and jumped around apartment full of glee. I even told my mom, who told everyone she knows. Sara got asked on a date, woot woot woot. Don't get me wrong, I was so excited, but kind of embarrassed that it was like breaking headline news.
Marriage would be nice. And awkward dating is how you get there. Better late than never, no? One day I will have a bunch of single ladies knocking each other over to get to my bouquet. Until then, I will keep using ward menus, attending ward activities, being awesome, and going to weddings for the meatballs, cake, and flowers. Heck, maybe at the next one I will actually propose to a real man ;-)
