I think folks missed my sarcasm about grief hitting us differently. While yes it does, in my poor attempt to make an inappropriate comparison, I really meant to convey that getting married in the midst of what can only be described as a hellish situation, not knowing where your child is, knowing that any number of horrible things could be happening to your child, is BIZARRE behavior. It is psychologically bizarre, not fitting into any sort of grief process at all. Denial? I don't think so. Their excuse of "Haleigh wanted it" sounds like what I attempted to state about my situation. I knew my husband was dead and I knew life had to go on. I knew I wasn't done with the last life yet and so did the one thing we always wanted to do.
How about Anger: "Its nobody's business what I do in my personal life" Ron's anger is sure there, but it is not anger about what happened to his daughter. It is anger that people would dare question his judgement.
Bargaining: Ron said "I would give my life to have my child's life back." He's bargaining for something gone!
Depression: Hard to tell with either of them at this point, though Misty's euphoria about landing her man seems to suggest that she's willing to forgo this step in the grief process.
Acceptance: All of the past tense language usage. TN's statement that "well, there was never any time to do it when her daddy was working, so now while she's gone they're going to." I think of all the statements made, this one shocks me the most (even if I paraphrased it). She fully accepts that Haleigh's disappearance has opened this door of opportunity for Ron and Misty to slip through to wedded bliss.
Grief and marriage are a strange mix, and in this case, are worse than oil and water.
arrot:
