When chatting with a colleague, she suddenly asked, "How did your husband propose? Was it romantic?" I was momentarily stunned, then laughed. "My husband is quite pragmatic," I said. "Do you really think his proposal would be romantic?" Despite my words, recalling the moment filled me with sweetness. Truthfully, his proposal was far from conventional—no flowers, diamond ring, or grand surprise. It could hardly even be called a "proposal."
He had given me a book about Ireland, which I now realize was part of a long-term plan. One weekend after I finished reading it, he approached me. "Have you finished the book?" he asked. Seeing my nod, his face lit up, and he said in a soft, joyful voice, "If you like, we can get married the Irish way."
My heart was already captivated by the romantic and sacred Irish marriage tradition described in the book. It explained that Ireland, rooted in Catholicism, once prohibited divorce. Couples could choose a marriage contract lasting from 1 to 100 years. The most striking aspect was the inverse relationship between the contract's duration and its cost. A one-year marriage required a fee of 2,000 pounds and came with a thick manual of rights and responsibilities. In contrast, a 100-year marriage cost only 0.5 pounds and included a brief, deeply moving note:
"I do not know the distinct rights and responsibilities between my left hand and my right, my right leg and my left, my left eye and my right, or the right hemisphere of my brain and the left. They are an integral whole, living for and supporting one another. Let this pink note convey my heartfelt wishes for your hundred-year union. May you live happily together for a lifetime!"
I remember turning to him and saying, "Well then, sir, please choose the duration for our marriage." He replied without hesitation, "I don't even need to think—100 years, of course. It's much more economical!"
Later, I married this man who wished to spend a century with me. Though not bound by Irish law, we have always cherished our vow and disciplined ourselves accordingly. We married in the spirit of the Irish tradition, viewing our union as a lifelong commitment. Hand in hand, we strive to nurture our marriage as we grow old together.
I sincerely hope every couple in the world can embrace this Irish spirit—committing to a hundred-year marriage, loving and protecting each other wholeheartedly.