Ginger and her boyfriend Bob both worked in California real estate sales.

Bob didn’t work very hard at it but he was able to help Ginger as she studied for and passed the examinations for the broker license.

They dated and were good friends.

As the relationship developed, Ginger wanted it formalized with marriage.

Bob was lukewarm to the idea of marriage but finally gave it his okay.

When a very nice home in Laguna Niguel came on the market, they signed a contract to purchase and began furnishing the rooms with tastefully selected items.

After consultation with members of both families, the date for the wedding was set.

The services of a distinguished clergyman were engaged for solemnizing the vows.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen were contacted and individually agreed to be there and to participate in the festive occasion.

Very well-designed, distinctive invitations were printed and sent out six weeks in advance of the ceremony date.

Reservation was made of an area on the ocean beach where there were facilities for participants and guests.

Caterers were hired for the after-ceremony sit down dinner and reception.

Many of the relatives and participants made airline reservations and flew in from Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Georgia and Ohio.

There were reserved motel accommodations for those who could not stay with relatives or friends.

On the day of the wedding, the weather was perfect with a little breeze blowing in off the ocean.

Aside from a little sand in the sandals and shoes, everything went as planned.

The four groomsmen were handsomely attired in tuxedos.

The four bridesmaids were lovely in formal dresses.

After the festivities, the couple departed for honeymoon and the guests returned to homes and occupations near and far.

Fast-forward five years and the real estate market had collapsed.

The lovely home in Laguna Nigel was repossessed by the lending institution.

Bob and Ginger moved to Denver, where Ginger was employed by a large federal agency.

Bob worked as doorman for a posh hotel.

While Ginger was a go-getter, Bob would as soon fly off to remote locations alone for skiing or surfing.

When Bob developed other serous romantic interests, Ginger decided it was time to split.

When relatives and friends learned about the manner of the split, they felt betrayed.

There had never been a marriage.

No marriage license had ever been obtained by Ginger and Bob.

The marriage ceremony had been a charade.

Wedding gifts had been purchased, wrapped, given and then opened by a bride who was not a bride.

Of course, there were no attorney fees or court fees for a divorce. But neither had there been the commitment of each of the parties to the other as is solemnized in a wedding.

Ginger and Bob are again floaters.

It may be hard for their dear ones to again take them seriously.

Bill Bradford retired to the rigors of a small farm in Pokagon Township.

He has served as director of clinical laboratories in physician group practices and hospitals.

For a decade he was an educator in clinical laboratory sciences at Andrews University.