Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for July 13, 2012

Maybe, they should show her the marriage certificate.

Leo’s keeping his escape path in tact.

Wrong hand!

It would be on the left hand, anyway.

Didn’t know there were such buzybodies anymore.

If they weren’t married, would she have asked them to leave? Looks like she wouldn’t have much of a clientele then.

Well, yes, should be on the left, but it isn’t the size of the stone on the left, but the heart.

Can’t get more charming than this couple!

The waitress is smiling. She’s just being real.

They should have exchanged wedding bands at the ceremony – to show they are betrothed. An engagement ring is flashy but not nearly as important.

That means the marriage isn’t legal! Leo’s got an out! Hooray!

Alex is showing off the wrong hand.

Small town – probably be stoned just to be sure God doesn’t strike the crops…

I guess the rich have all the money so these two couldn’t afford the rings.

jnik23260 & pouncingtiger – what part of ‘Leo loves Alex’ did you not get?

Toggle should do like every service-member: get a PX card, then buy the most expensive ring at the PX and pay for that rock until he reaches 60.

in these times? a rock is just an invitation to theft.

Oh, jeez. When you’re in love you really DO go all the way. Hey, everybody…! we’re together. I’m a guy old enough to know: I’ve really felt that feeling.And whether…alas…it lasts or not, when you HAVE it, you don’t say no to that feeling.

Don’t waitresses work for tips? Why piss off your customers?

Leo, dude, go get her a manmade stone! Way better than simulants, far less expensive than mined, and with no ethical implications. My wife loves hers and is even happier that I could get it for a fraction of a paycheck. Plus they’re chemically real enough that you don’t have to tell anyone the rock came from a lab, and NEW enough to show off for plenty of tech/geek-chic attention (which I’m sure Alex would appreciate).

Doesn’t have to be on the left hand. In Germany they move the engagement ring to the right hand after the wedding and in Poland it was traditional to wear both on the right hand (Eastern Orthodox also wear the wedding band on the right hand).

Diamond? Puh-lease.

They’re carbon, the 6th most abundant element in the universe. Cecil Rhodes dug ‘em out of the ground by the millions, then created De Beers to hoard them and convince us they were rare and we needed to spend vast amounts of money to acquire them.

Give her something she’d appreciate, like maybe a small meteorite in a nice simple setting. Amber with an insect would be good too, except that amber isn’t durable enough to wear on your hand for the rest of your life.

they should go to Ar and the diamond fields

A rock is for engagements. They don’t need a rock.

We’ll need to see the marriage certificate and proof of citizenship before serving you…

A lot of young people are eschewing the traditional wedding bands, either for economic reason or just to break away from traditions.But if my dim memory serves me correctly, wasn’t there an arc where Alex was picking out a “rock” for herself ?

Maybe she’s hoping not, so she can hit on Leo??

Yeah, I thought immigration policy and its enforcement was a federal issue, too. But, it’s all about “states rights,” if you know what they really mean by that… [wink wink nudge nudge]

Anyhoo, I did have an issue once in the bible belt about 10 years ago. Was going on-site to a customer’s plant for a machine start-up (usually a 2-3 week process) and was traveling with one of the techs. The (European) company was big on saving money, so they booked a double occupancy room. The night manager gets all snarly as we’re checking in, “I don’t see no rang on yo finguhs, if you ain’t married you cain’t stay here! [sic]” The night manager (right out of Deliverance) wouldn’t let us have two singles, implying we would “sneak around.” Even worse, after we did find lodging, the very next day after work, we found out that you had to pay “membership dues” to be able to get a drink at a “club” (bar).

The whole diamond racket has got to be the most successful combination of marketing and price manipulation in history. De Beers controls enough of the diamond trade to be able to successfully create a false scarcity, and then has created enough demand for them that there’s a limitless supply of people willing to pay absurd prices for the little things. Yeah, they’re pretty, but there are other, far more attactive gems out there, and for a fraction of the price you can get a cubic zirconia that will look just like a diamond to anybody other than a jeweler. De Beers managed to pull off the perfect coup – people want diamonds BECAUSE they’re expensive.

No ring – good! I’ve been opposed to this match from the beginning.

Some people (presumably those with bad experiences) don’t think anyone should ever get married. Too bad for them. I have been happily married for 18 yrs and recommend it highly. Congratulations, Alex and Leo.

People, this is a COMIC STRIP.

Yes, a comical strip.(and some reactions) MORE POWER TO LEO AND ALEX! I had two eyes, but much the same situation going, and it’s only lasted 43 pretty happy years. I “knew” my “Alex” was right, after talking to her in the Yosemite back country for like, well, 20 minutes! Sometimes you DO, just “know”!

This is a comic strip?