Brides

    In July of 1918, Hallie Crawford Stillwell was a self described “ nervous bride- to- be and twenty years old.” (Stillwell 104.)    I too, was 20 when I married.  I know how a young woman of that age feels when she is about to marry.  Young brides-to-be are excited about the future they will share with their future husband; the life they will create for themselves and the lives they create as they have children.  I know, I remember. 

   The brides- to- be of years past worried more about the marriage than the wedding.  My grandmother worried about earning enough money to buy a dress, not so much about how she would look in it.  I don’t doubt that she ,in fact, did want to be radiant in that dress, but I know she didn’t starve herself to get into it.   She was a product of harder times after all, she had been hungry most of her life, she wasn’t looking to emphasize that hunger for a dress.  Like Stillwell, my grandmother’s thoughts were of her future and making the best life possible for herself and the man she loved.   The whole idea was us not  me or “How do I look?” 

  Stillwell wondered “what (her) role as a pioneer ranch wife would be like.” (Stillwell 108.)  She would do all of the cooking, washing, and child rearing.  Her life would be filled with challenge and hardship, joy and hard work.  Stillwell remembers how she “was ready to accept my responsibilities as his wife…” (Stillwell 113.) 

 Today’s bride is much different. Today planning a wedding is time consuming, stressful, exhaustive, and expensive. Recently the web has been buzzing with the story of Feeding Tube Brides. According to Click2Houston.com, today’s future brides are paying $1,500.00 to have a feeding tube inserted. This devise administers an 800 calorie per day liquid diet that consists of a combination of protein, fat and no carbohydrates. In the span of a week, brides- to -be can lose up to 10 pounds or more. Gone are the days of radiant brides. They have been replaced by gaunt, wan, hungry women walking around with tubes hanging out of their noses. Most of these women gain all the weight back during their honeymoon.

   

More important than the question “What are these women thinking?” is the question “What are the future husbands thinking?” Equal portions of blame can be placed on the grooms in this bizarre feeding tube scenario. Husbands are expected to shelter their wives from the certain things, in my opinion. A voluntary feeding tube is one of those things. Stillwell knew that her husband “would protect me from danger and teach me how to protect myself.”(Stillwell 113.) One must wonder who is protecting today’s bride.

Works Cited

Barbadoro, Alexandria. “I’ll Take my Enema Now.” April 24, 2012. Web. April 26, 2012. <http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2012/04/24/enema-shop-open-business/>

Berman, Laura. “Is a Feeding Tube now a New Brides Best Friend? April 24, 2012. Web. April 26, 2012. <http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/easy/12012285-423/is-feeding-tube-now-a-brides-best-friend.html>

Chung, Jen.  “The Feeding Tube Diet.” Food. April 22, 2012. Web. April 26, 2012. <http://gothamist.com/2012/04/22/feeding_tube_diet_bride_its_not_cra.php>

“Feeding Tube Diet gains popularity with Brides.” April 17, 2012. Web. April 26, 2012. <http://www.click2houston.com/news/-Feeding-Tube-Diet-gains-popularity-with-brides/-/1735978/10959300/-/9rng42z/-/index.html>

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