I recently got a book about Stephen Hawking to learn more about him and his life. And, I did learn more about him. But, in doing so, I was left with more questions about a few other people’s lives. You see, the second-hand book I bought had two bookmarks tucked away within its pages. They are strips of pictures from the picture booths set up at weddings and other parties. These celebrated two different weddings. First, I located the common denominator- the guest that shows in both photos. This took a bit to figure out, as the guests had lots of props all over themselves – funky hats, golden star antenna headbands, oversized bright red lips that you hold in place with a stick (kind of like you would hold opera glasses in place but a few levels lower on your face), feather boas, oversized glasses and huge polka-dotted bow ties. Ah, there she is. She went to both Sarah and Patrick’s and Kaitlyn and Keith’s weddings. Now I am curious about how long ago these weddings were. How interesting. Sarah and Patrick wed on July 4th, 2015 and Kaitlyn and Keith wed on December 31st, 2017. Both weddings were on holidays. So, on their anniversaries, there will be celebration all around them no matter how their relationships are going. We know, based on statistics, that one of these couples will be divorced. I study their friend groups in the pictures, trying to read into which couple it will be. Everybody seems so happy. I guess time will tell.

I finished the book and moved to donate it back. I once found a crisp clean and certainly flat 2 dollar bill hidden in a second-hand book I bought at my local library. Into my coin collection the bill went. But, this treasure, these pictures found within the pages, I return to the pages before I usher the book along to my local Goodwill. Sarah and Patrick and Kaitlyn and Keith, I will pass your stories on. And hopefully, you continue in wedded bliss.