Lonely People

Welcome To The Family

Marriages seemed to have become a common trait in my life. Two of my closest friends and my Dad had gotten married in the span of a few years. The universe seemed to be taunting me with marriages around every corner all because I knew I could never get married.

I loved seeing the people I love happy, but watching them seal their lives together forever caused my heart to ache ever so slightly. Weddings only stood to remind me that I could never have one of my own. Never would I be able to marry the woman I fell in love with, because she was exactly that; a woman.

Despite the ache in my heart, I wore a smile for wedding. John and Cynthia's was easy, I didn't even know I was queer then. Dad and Angela's was a bit harder, but for different reasons. When it came to Ringo and Maureen getting married, I was able to completely focus on the fact that everyone I knew had someone they could marry while I was left to hide in a closet all my life.

Ringo and Maureen didn't have a wedding, exactly. They both got dolled up and went to the courthouse to sign the papers. Neither Starkey wanted to make a big deal of their marriage, and they definitely didn't want the press to get involved. They had told everyone they knew not to show up for celebrations nor to get them presents.

I, of course, didn't listen.

I waited two days before I went to visit them with a present wrapped in white paper underneath my arm. There was no way I was letting my best friend get married without some sort of celebration, even if that celebration was just the three of us drinking in the living room.

"Amelia?" Maureen answered the door.

I beamed at her, "'Ello, Mrs. Starkey, good day to you."

"And to you," Maureen looked confused, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to visit the happy couple, of course, and I come bearing gifts!"

I showed her the box in triumph. She looked at the box and then at me, "Amelia, I'm flattered, but we said no presents."

"Ah, but I never listen, just one of my many endearing traits."

Ringo appeared behind Maureen and snorted, "Annoying is more like it."

"Well, if it isn't the handsome groom. How does it feel to be a married man?"

"Wonderful. Come ed, you might as well come in."

I followed Ringo and Maureen into the living room, making sure to shut the door behind me. Maureen daintily sat on the couch while Ringo stood near the fireplace. I placed the gift on the table and moved to give him a hug, laughing the entire time.

"We didn't expect you for a visit," Ringo commented.

I shrugged, "Expect the unexpected, that's what I always say."

"You've never said that in your life."

"How do you know?"

Ringo shook his head, "You shouldn't have brought us a gift, we said no gifts."

"I know, but I got you one anyways," I replied, "You get it whether you like it or not."

"Thank you, Amelia," Maureen moved to open the gift.

I watched as she gingerly peeled back the paper. She pulled the box from the paper and opened it. I had gotten them two things, one for each half of the happy couple. Maureen got a hand mirror I had found at an antique shop near Carnaby Street. The back was inlaid with fake jewels and the front was like a crystal. As soon as I saw it, I instantly thought of Maureen. She gingerly lifted it out of the box, her eyes sparkling the entire time. 

"Oh, it's beautiful," Maureen took to admiring the jewels.

I grinned, "I saw it and thought of you."

"Thank you."

While Maureen admired her new mirror, Ringo picked his gift out of the box. I had gotten him what was perhaps the most cliche gift anyone could ever get Ringo Starr; a new ring. This one had a silver band and a small blue jewel on the top. Inside of the jewel were cracks in the shape of music notes. I had never seen a ring like that, and I knew Ringo had to have it.

"It's gear!" Ringo exclaimed, "Thanks, Mel."

He gave me a side hug. I grinned, "Only the best for me best mate."

He slid his ring on and admired it. I grabbed my camera from it's spot dangling off my neck and snapped a picture of the two admiring their gifts. Ringo laughed, "One for the book?"

"We're on the second album now."

"The more the better."

Maureen stood and showed Ringo her mirror. They both held a side of it, their fingers almost touching. Ringo looked at Maureen with eyes sparkling brighter than every star in the sky. I snapped a picture of the moment where their love was as obvious as ever before, and on display for the world to see. My heart ached, but I smiled for my friends. 

"How about a drink?" Ringo asked.

I grinned, "Love one."

Ringo nodded and vanished into the kitchen, leaving Maureen and me alone. I quickly strode up to her and flung my arm around her shoulder. She seemed shocked, maybe a tad bit uncomfortable, but she smiled all the same.

"Welcome to the family, Mo," I grinned, "Now, it's official."

She smiled. Maureen knew just as well as anybody; when you married one of us, you married all of us. One didn't simply marry one friend without expecting everyone else to show up at your door at odd times. By marrying Ringo, Maureen had officially made herself apart of the family with John, Paul, George, Ringo, Janice, Molly, and myself. Maureen and Cynthia were the only two, so far, to marry into a family as large and as odd as our own. I did expect Jane to eventually join the family, and even Pattie, though I had only ever met her twice. She was just as busy, if not busier, than George, meaning I often went to visit him when she wasn't around. 

"What's this?" Ringo asked when he rounded the corner to see my arm around Maureen's shoulder.

I grinned at him, "Just welcoming her to the family, is all."

I released Maureen and took my drink from him with a grateful nod. He nodded back, his smile as bright and as wonky as ever. This time, it was Ringo to rest his arm across Maureen's shoulders. The two looked at each other with immense happiness.

"Congratulations and many happy wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Starkey," I raised my glass and smiled.

Maureen and Ringo both tapped their glasses against mine. We all sipped and laughed together, with Ringo laughing the loudest of us all. His laugh only made Maureen and I laugh harder until each of us had tears pouring down our faces.

A family can be something you're born into, something you marry into, or something you find all on your own. I had Dad, Michael, and Paul, but my family was larger than ever before. My heart belonged to each and every member. We were all one, big, happy family even with all of our annoying quirks and arguments. We may be dysfunctional, confusing, and annoying at times, but, at the end of the day, we were always smiling with each other.

Sometimes, families cause the greatest pain of all. 

(Photo- Ringo and Maureen, 1965. Taken by Amelia McCartney.)