ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — In some ways, Rebecca Wright doesn't understand all the fuss over her 96-year-old mother's recent marriage. After all, she says, "Anybody who wants to get married must have a little dementia."
The courts, though, and some of Wright's other relatives aren't amused. And the future for newlyweds Edith Hill, 96, and Eddie Harrison, 95, is very much uncertain.
The two have been companions for more than a decade after a Hollywood-style meet-cute — they struck up a conversation while standing in line for lottery tickets, with one of the tickets turning into a $2,500 winner. They married earlier this year, with a 95-year-old church elder presiding over the ceremony, no less.
"I guess I wanted company," Hill said in an interview, explaining why she married. "I wanted somebody I could help, and they could help me. ... We were both single. My husband was gone. His wife was gone. We became the best of friends."
"You catch them kissing all the time," she said. "They're actually in love. Really in love. ... I know he's part of the reason she gets up every morning."
Legally, though, the wedding has been problematic. Hill has been declared legally incapacitated for several years. A judge said at a hearing last month that he believes Wright — co-guardian over her mother along with Rebecca Wright's sister who opposed the marriage — acted improperly by taking her mother to get married without the court's permission.
as much as I hate to repeat a talking point of republicans I feel it is justified this time, "the gov't needs to get off their backs" whew that has hard lol. these two people found each other and apparently are in love, this my friends is the real American no global dream to spend your twilight time with someone you love and that loves you.
they are hurting no one but inspiring millions, while some pompous azz sits in judgment of two people's happiness the same happiness that the Declaration of Independence guarantees so this judge is stomping on their rights because of someone else's assessment of her entitlement to be with her chosen partner, we are still going through this with Gay rights now they are going after the elderly? those SOB's better hope they make it to 96 and have someone to share it with that they love. despicable them
everyone should have the right to spend their lives with who they choose especially when they are not harming anyone else that includes those bigots and jealous ones.
