Love and Expectations

Words
A wise man hears one word
and understands two.

Yiddish Proverb

Paddy Murphy told Margaret O’Leary that he loved her and decided to buy a diamond engagement ring at the first opportunity and ask her to marry him. If her answer were ‘yes’, he would be elated and slip the ring on her finger.

“What if she said, ‘No?’” Paddy mused.  “Well, now, that would constitute a serious unexpected happening.” Just a few months earlier, she told him that she loved him and would go with him anywhere and that she wanted to marry him as soon as possible. Paddy’s expectations were that when he asked ask her to marry him, she would eagerly say, ‘Yes, Yes, Paddy, I will marry you.’     

Paddy had a problem and he believed it not an uncommon one--he expected he needed to save more money before he stopped at the jewelry store.

Paddy was not deterred but rather dispirited when he thought that Margaret’s response might be contrary to his heartfelt dreams. He immediately went to the nearest public telephone and called her.  She was excited when she heard his voice and asked when he could come to see her.

Paddy said, “It will be soon but my concern is, do you still love me?”

Her answer was heartening. She said, “Yes, Yes, Paddy, I love you with all my heart and I’ve loved you from the first day I met you. I miss you every minute of my life. Please come to see me soon.”

They talked until the operator interrupted to say, ‘Three minutes are up.’ Margaret hurriedly told Paddy that she loved him. His spirits were lifted and he felt their life together would complete them.

~~~

In the window of the corner jewelry store in Milwaukee, near where Paddy worked part time, was the impressionable word ‘LOVE’ in bold letters surrounded with colorful flashing lights. After ten seconds or so, the word ‘LOVE’ disappeared and was replaced by the word ‘EXPECTATIONS’. In a few moments it too, disappeared and the phrase ‘LOVE AND EXPECTATIONS’ appeared with a rainbow of flashing lights with simulated smoke rising from below, attracting spectators to come forward to stand and stare. In a few moments, a boy and girl, holding hands and smiling, were simulated in the background. They disappeared and diamond rings, wedding bands and other jewelry appeared surrounded by soft, bright lights, causing them to sparkle and shine behind the triple strength glass window. The scene was repeated and continued until the crowd that stopped to stare had to be dispersed because traffic on the street was backed up, causing the policeman directing traffic to leave his post in order to tell the people to, ‘move on.’

Paddy Murphy passed the jewelry store many times going to and from work but never was he as impressed as he was on this occasion. He was impressed with the phrase ‘Love and Expectations’ and wondered what it was supposed to imply. He ran it through his mind several times during the day and concluded that the phrase had a deeper meaning than what was first thought.

He reasoned that love is the only obsession worth struggling for and from the expectations of love life is worth living. It has always been that way and always will. However, he mused, expectations are a fleeting and powerful force, perhaps unrecognizable at times. Love is elastic and everyone is searching with expectations that it will be kind and gentle and continue forever.

~~~

Paddy journeyed home to Kansas to see his parents and, while there, visited his friend Woody. They were sitting in the shade of a large elm tree, discussing their future, when Woody said, “Paddy why should I choose between two girls who say they are in love with me, or why should you? Don’t make sense to me and, anyway, I’m not ‘bout to get married. I’m too young to do that. I would be out of my mind--that’s what.”

“Yep, I agree with you Woody, Paddy replied. “In a couple years I might not feel I’m too young but I prefer to let things develop and see what happens. Martha said she wouldn’t move from around here because this is home to her but I’ve made my choice. You know somethin, Woody, home is not only where you hang your hat, as the ol’ say’en goes, but where one can find a good job and a chance for a better life. Nothing has changed around here. The darn ol’ grasshoppers look the same and eat the farmer’s crops the same as they did ten years ago.”

Woody’s sister, Itty, who unexpectedly came home from college, stopped to talk to the two boys. She had enlisted in the Army Air Force and was now attending the University of Kansas. After greeting the boys, she said, “I feel like I’ve grown up some since I graduated from high school. Some of my friends are with me in the same dorm and we help each other with homework and we review our lessons together--like you did, Paddy, when you were in high school. I got the idea from you and we help each other a lot.”