《中英對照讀新聞》Bob Clark And Norma Clark’s Marriage Wasn’t Legal For 48 Years 鮑伯．克拉克與諾瑪．克拉克的婚姻48年不合法

《中英對照讀新聞》Bob Clark And Norma Clark’s Marriage Wasn’t Legal For 48 Years 鮑伯．克拉克與諾瑪．克拉克的婚姻48年不合法

2013-01-02

◎魏國金

After spending nearly a half-century as husband and wife, Bob and Norma Clark are finally married.

在夫妻生活近半世紀後，鮑伯與諾瑪．克拉克終於完婚。

The couple from Redlands, an inland California city halfway between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, celebrated their 48th anniversary in August, and in November they were getting their end-of-life documents in order and sought a copy of their marriage license for Social Security purposes.

這對來自加州內地、洛杉磯與棕櫚泉中途城市「瑞德蘭」的夫妻，8月間慶祝他們結婚48週年紀念，11月間他們整理臨終相關文件，索取結婚證書副本，以因應社會安全之需。

The Clarks, who met in college, took their vows at a church south of San Francisco in August 1964, shortly after Bob had served in the Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

相識於大學的克拉克夫婦，1964年8月，也就是古巴飛彈危機期間，鮑伯在陸軍服役不久之後，於舊金山南部的一間教會立下婚姻誓約。

But when clerks at the Hall of Records in San Mateo County tried to pull the license last month, they came up empty.

但上月聖馬提歐郡檔案廳的工作人員試圖調閱證書時，卻一無所獲。

The church where they had married still had a record of the ceremony so they knew they hadn’t imagined it, and several of the couple’s family members and friends who had been wedding guests were about to come to town for Thanksgiving.

幸好他們結婚的教堂仍保有婚禮紀錄，所以他們知道這樁婚姻並非出於想像，而一些當時是婚禮賓客的親友正準備到訪過感恩節。

On Nov. 21 they made their marriage legitimate, filing their paperwork and obtaining their license at the San Bernardino County Hall of Records, with the maid of honor and a junior usher from the original wedding serving as witnesses.

11月21日他們在原初婚禮的首席伴娘與一名次要伴郎充當證人下，讓婚姻合法了，他們提出文書，並在聖伯納迪諾郡檔案廳取得結書證書。

Bob Clark brought flowers for Norma, and at the urging of family and friends kissed the bride to seal the deal.（AP）

鮑伯．克拉克送花給諾瑪，並在親友催促下親吻新娘、完成婚約。（美聯社）

新聞辭典

in order︰按順序、井然有序、處於良好（正常）狀態。例句︰We soon put Jim’s bike in order.（我們很快就把吉姆的自行車修好了。）

maid of honor︰首席伴娘。例句︰I’m the maid of honor in the wedding of my best friend from high school.（我是我高中摯友的首席伴娘。）

seal the deal︰敲定、達成、搞定。例句︰They sealed the deal with a handshake.（他們握手成交。）