Folks come through my little chapel at a steady rate. We are scheduled every 15 minutes from 830am until 5pm Monday through Friday. Marriage is a booming concern, let me tell you.
I see couples that are so cute, so in love that they give me hope for tomorrow when I am getting low. Some giggle all through their vows, some cry, some won’t look at each other while some are so serious it hurts. I get people with killer diamond rings and one couple had cat shaped rings that they had designed and printed themselves on their 3r printer! I take the rings at the beginning of the ceremony so that they are ready when the time comes. I hand the larger one to her and the smaller one to him and that usually works out just fine except when the bride was about twice the size of her new husband. I didn’t even trip to that until I handed her the wrong ring and we all laughed.
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group is for us to check in at to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, or other such things that could keep us off DKos. It's also so we can find other Kossacks nearby for in-person checks when other methods of communication fail - a buddy system. Members come here to check in. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area (floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, etc.), we and your buddy are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care!
IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. Drop one of us a PM to be added to the Itzl Alert Network anytime! We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!
Monday Crimson Quillfeather
Tuesday ejoanna
Wednesday Pam from Calif
Thursday art ah zen
Friday FloridaSNMOM
Saturday Gwennedd
Sunday loggersbrat
Some of my couples are totally dressed to the hubcaps and others seem to have come from changing the oil in their car. I had one couple where she was in a full on white bridal gown with train and he was in board shorts, flip flops and a t shirt. I wondered how well they would do in life but we all have about the same chances at happiness if we put our minds to it.
But the ones that strike me in the most poignant manner are elders. I had a man and a woman some months ago who were in their 80’s. They had been together for 60 years without the benefit of clergy, but now she was dying and they wanted to be joined here so they would be joined there. They were all alone, she was so tiny and frail. I had them sit in the front pew and i knelt down in front of them and did the ceremony quietly. She spoke in a whisper. It was very moving.
Today, I had another elderly couple. He walked with a cane and she helped him. They too were all alone. They spoke very tenderly to each other and thanked me for my “thoughtful words”. As I read the info on the marriage license, I saw that they were both widowed. I said to them “It is wonderful to see that you two have found love again” and they both looked at each other with deep affection and he said “It has been too long without love” and she nodded in agreement. They seemed very pleased to have each other at the end of a long day.
I wish them happiness and joy. And I wish it to you, even if you aren’t getting married today.