Ok, this is a little bit strange, but stick w/ me here.
CNN.com – Woman, 104, takes man, 33, as husband No. 21 – May 2, 2006:
Woman, 104, takes man, 33, as husband No. 21Tuesday, May 2, 2006; Posted: 6:25 p.m. EDT (22:25 GMT)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A 33-year-old man in northern Malaysia has married a 104-year-old woman, saying mutual respect and friendship had turned to love, a news report said Tuesday.
Ok — that kind of makes sense to me. I can see how they may’ve known each other and come to love one-another. Still kinda odd, but my skepticism starts to wane at this point. I expected to hear a story of some burning passion, which of COURSE would’ve been ridiculous.
It was Muhamad Noor Che Musa’s first marriage and his wife’s 21st, according to The Star newspaper, which cited a report in the Malay-language Harian Metro tabloid.
Muhamad, an ex-army serviceman, said he found peace and a sense of belonging after meeting Wook Kundor, whom he said he initially sympathized with because she was childless, old and alone, the report said.
Right — got that. That much made sense. Without being too cruel, let’s face it: at 104, you’re gonna pretty much be alone if you’re childless. All of your peers are dead, and you probably aren’t going to have the patience to befriend younger generations. In this case, this woman seems to be exceptional. Good on her, I think.
“I am not after her money, as she is poor,�? Muhamad reportedly said. “Before meeting Wook, I never stayed in one place for long.�?
Now this part is what won me over on this story. As I read along, I had a checklist in my head of reasons why this young man might marry a 104 year-old woman, and at that age, you can really amass a good chunk of change, but that’s it not, either.
He said he hoped to help his new bride to master Roman script while she taught him Islamic religious knowledge.
The report did not say if any of Wook’s previous 20 husbands are still alive.
Malaysian Muslim men are allowed by their religion to take up to four wives at a time, but reports of women who marry more than once are rare. Muslim women do not practice polygamy.
Well, NOW it makes sense. In western civilizations, polygamy is frowned upon. Monogamous societies think long & hard on the decision whether to marry someone, since you’re finding The One. The LAST question in my (dirty) mind was whether or not they were going to consummate the marriage, which struck me as both disgusting and unlikely (because it’s so disgusting!), but if this guy can take four wives, he could easily pick up a more suitable sack-partner.
In the end, it seems like this truly IS a marriage of love. Amazing.