Can You Get Married in Heaven?
sent by Judy of Covina, CA

On their way to get married, a young Protestant couple was involved in a fatal car accident. The couple found themselves sitting outside the Pearly Gates waiting for St. Peter to process them into Heaven. While waiting, they begin to wonder: Could they possibly get married in Heaven? When St. Peter showed up, they asked him.

St. Peter said, "I don't know. This is the first time anyone has asked. Let me go find out." And he left.

After yet another month, St. Peter finally returns, looking somewhat bedraggled. "Yes!" he informs the couple, "you can get married in Heaven!"

"Great!" said the couple, "but we were just wondering, what if things don't work out? Could we also get a divorce in Heaven?"

St. Peter, red-faced with anger, slammed his clipboard onto the ground.

"What's wrong?" asked the frightened couple.

"OH, COME ON!"
St. Peter shouted, "It took me three months to find a minister up here! Do you have any idea how long it'll take me to find a lawyer?"

 

Raoulisms Raoul's quickie blog A Roller Coaster Day It's summer here in Southern California. Gone are the thick coats and in come the bikini tops, shorts and sandals. Last Sunday, after church and lunch at a favorite Chinese restaurant, my son, Josh, suggested we watch the Pixar movie "UP." Normally, being the cheapskate that I am, I would have waited for the DVD but I heard good reviews and I thought this was one of the rare times we could enjoy a movie as a family since my kids were growing up so fast. My daughter, Janet, had already seen it but she wanted to see it again. "It's my favorite movie ever!" Knowing that she says this about any movie she had just seen, I wasn't convinced. "It's a movie that makes you cry and then makes you laugh." Now that made me think. Any movie that is able to give your emotions that roller coaster ride must be good. And so I found myself in the middle of the dark theater, the smell of popcorn permeated the air, surrounded by my kids and wishing my wife were with us instead of in Vegas where she had to attend a High School reunion. It had been so long since I had been in a movie and watched an animation so it made me feel like a kid again. I got so involved in the movie. I loved the characters. I loved the light music and the images that captured the life of two people who were devoted to each other. And then it happened! Janet warned me that she cried during the first part of the movie and I laughed at her. But there I was---tears started rolling down my cheeks. Embarrassed to wipe them off, I hoped it would evaporate during the duration of the movie. Janet warned me that she couldn't stop laughing. And here I was joining in the laughter with all the kids in the theater. Janet said it would be a thrilling adventure. And I found myself rooting for the underdog (literally speaking). One thing Janet didn't mention was the insight you get about the lives of the elderly. It's a lonely world out there especially when people label you as irrelevant. I don't want to spoil the movie for many of you but suffice it to say, this is one cool movie. The storyline, the visual, the music--everything was like a beautiful painting in motion. When we got home I was tempted to get some work done but I forced myself to vegge out in front of the TV. I was hoping my kids would join me but they didn't. Little did I know, they were planning something with my wife who was already on her way back home. She called and asked me to help Josh move a TV set from a room in the retirement home where she worked. I didn't feel like lifting a TV on a Sunday but I reluctantly obliged. So my son and I headed for the TV place. As we left our house I wondered why the girls were so quiet. Were they still taking their afternoon siesta? We got to the place and as the door opened I saw a room filled with happy faces. Surprise!! My wife, my kids, my church friends --- they planned my birthday surprise ... a rare one. I was as red as a tomato and my jaw dropped in disbelief. I had no clue. From the laughter I could tell they were having more fun than the celebrant. To cut a long story short, it was delightful. Everyone took turns letting me know what they thought about me ---all of them good---all of them affirming. I could have gone straight to heaven at that point and I would have had no regrets. As America celebrates its day of independence this weekend I thank the good Lord for the simple pleasures of life --- freedom to worship in church, ability to splurge on a roller coaster movie with my kids and spending time with family and loved ones in a surprise birthday party. TGIF people!

For Austin Deep in the Heart of Austin Texas-

From JRP, Iligan City, Philippines - Hi Raoul! When I was in Austin in 1957 it was a small town. I was even interviewed by a local newspaper & remember telling him our family is in the fishpond business. A Mexican brick layer in the lime plant I observed for a week took me to his houseboat in a lake near Austin & we had steak & beer while we fish. I thought the guy's lifestyle is better than the millionaire I stayed with in Salt Lake city.

For Italian Profiling -

From Pia Hugo, La Crescenta, CA - Hi Raoul! I came here to make reservations for our Sta. Barbara trip and decided to read the Italian jokes because. I have a few from my church. Very funny! Give Mike my thanks! And the illustrations are, as always, very creative! Thanks for the laughs :)

From Dette of Iligan City, Philippines - Always a treat and lift of the spirits whenever I see your cartoons. More power!

From Dette of Iligan City, Philippines - First of all, that cartoon of the lady reindeer and Sta Claus had me laughing loud. You really have imagination, lots. Original too. Congrats. But I really have to thank you for that X'mas story. It touches the heart. May I use the story for my own column in "Mindanao Scoop"? With your name and the "Traveling Boy" properly acknowledged of course. It says below "All Rights Reserved". Does this mean I can't reprint your article even if I acknowledge authorship? Merry Christmas!

From Nina of Quezon City, Philippines - Your Big Bear adventure sure looks cool. Most of my friends in San Diego only go there during winter probably because that's the best place to experience snow in Southern California but I didn't know that summer in Big Bear is a good treat as well.

From Hannah of Monrovia, CA - We've been to Big Bear for several anniversary week-ends and enjoyed kayaking on the lake. But we didn't know the history of the place and we didn't know the owners of the fabulous homes on the lake. Sounds like you had a lot of fun. You make us want to jump in the car and go this weekend.

From J.B. of Virginia - Nice [Big Bear Lake article] ... isn't [the pleasure of taking a vacation] why we are fighting wars, sacrificing, staying up long hours, suffering?.Isn't it for our freedom of self determination ... for our right to live our lives the way we want to and for the ones we care about?

From Tom of Pasadena, CA - Great Big Bear story Raoul. You definitely caught the essence of the place and remind me when my Mom and Dad and 5 brothers and sisters went there to camp in a 14 foot trailer and fish from a 10 foot boat with a 5 horse power Johnson Motor on it.One Summer I caught a 6 pound trout and got my picture in the paper. I was stoked as an 11 year old kid.Many happy memories came flooding back into my cranium regarding the great times enjoyed at Big Bear Lake.Thanks for your sharing them with me.

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So glad you enjoyed the article Tom. Your childhood must have been fun. A 6 pound trout? Wow!! That must have been delicious. --- Raoul

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It was delicious but the fame of catching it was tough to take with all the paparazzi hanging around. Ha! You have a real gift for writing, I thought I was right there with you in that article. --- Tom

From Mike & Trish Marzell of Lucky Bear Fishing Charters, Big Bear Lake, CA - Hi Raoul, You wrote such a wonderful article on summer in Big Bear! Nice website. Thank you for coming out fishing with us - we had so much fun with Josh, you and Dan. We're thinking up good legends and "UFO" is priceless! Please tell us whenever you come up the mountain; we would love to take you and your family out again. You are a great writer (kept us interested). We are going to read your other articles. Thank you again.

Some responses from my Lake Tahoe Adventure

From RV of Covina, CA - I enjoyed reading your Lake Tahoe blog. It brings back memories when I brought my mom & dad to Tahoe in 1999. My dad loved the place so much that when my brother arrived two weeks later, we drove up to Tahoe again. I'm sure you had a wonderful time with Danny, Edwin and their families. Those are golden moments, including the snow chain malfunction, which you won't get tired of re-telling over and over again.

From Hannah of Monrovia, CA - Thanks for your story about the blizzard. It made our day to see how God protected you guys. Otto remembered your bear story--same result; exciting adventure and no one got hurt; but now you have another marvelous God adventure to share!

From Kathleen of Massachusetts- Just read your mini-blog and let me tell you, you guys are very blessed. I won't say, lucky, I'll say blessed. Those slippery ice/snow scenarios are really dangerous. Glad God sent you the snow plow!

We don't get that much snow where we live, but in blizzards, we don't go out. It's too scary. One time we were retrieving our daughter Mercy from Providence, a 25 minute trip in regular weather. It took us 3 hours to get home, driving on the highway in blinding snow. Blinding. We couldn't see a foot in front of us, and if we pulled over there was a chance of getting plowed in to. Never again.

That stuff is pretty, but it's deadly on the highway and for hikers.

From Cindi of Connecticut - A great story and your family has an everlasting memory. There is nothing like home, especially when home is in So CA!

From Terry os Santa Monica, CA - Wow, what a compelling story about snowy Lake Tahoe and the tire chains!

I remember driving my van up to Mammoth to go skiing in my much younger days and having similar episodes with chains. One time a rear chain came loose and wrapped itself completely around the axle. It took two of us, on our backs in the icy slush, in the dark, without wire cutters, hours to untangle that dang chain. It still seems like yesterday. So I empathize with your plight, and glory in your release.

Welcome home.

From Ding of Vancouver, BC- Wow, brave souls, glad you got home safely ;-) Thanks for the TGIF, as always!

From Maria of San Antonio, CA (the email that my article was based on) - Only nuts and daredevils went to Lake Tahoe last weekend. The lat time we went up to the mountains in spite of the blizzard warning, we got snowed in. We just stayed home and watched our own leaks.