The Royal Opera House, Covenant Garden, London
It was a perfect prospect for them to see a new world and meet family while being gainfully employed. The new and different environment and the opportunity intensified their talk of marriage. The lure of formally joining their lives was too much to resist. There was no reason to resist. They decided not to wait to return home and they intermingled their marriage with their teaching exchange. As far as they were concerned they had been on a honeymoon since they met.
Parliament and Big Ben, London, Great Britain
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This was just an extension of that celestial adventure. Caitlin would not even have to buy new monogrammed blouses. She couldn’t let that opportunity pass by, could she? It was not exactly a reason to get married, but, nonetheless another ancillary benefit. Again, many times, love knows no logic.
They completed their exchange duties in England and returned to America to resume their teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. The return voyage from Southampton, England to New York provided a welcomed relief from their hectic lives of teaching and marriage.
They basked in the exclusivity of the experience of being in each other’s company away from the world and free from distractions and the incessant responsibilities and duties of daily life. The pleasant solitude of the cruise established a fond mindset and pleasant memories for future decisions to be made. One decision in particular to be made by the newly-married couple years later, would prove to be fateful indeed.
Photo credit: imgkid.com
As they entered the harbor, the Statue of Liberty welcomed them home from their most marvelous adventure. They were firmly ensconced in an enjoyable and rewarding life – all starting from attending an opera, well at least part of an opera. But, something was missing – something important to both of them.