Contemporary Love

The trip was an adventure. My father-in-law is very conservative, as is his wife. It was their first trip to the United States. Everyone loved San Francisco, which is where we landed, and enjoyed the scenic drive to Reno.

I had warned Proverb and my inlaws that Reno was, well, its own kind of place and would seem like a different world compared to the Union Square district of S.F. It didn't disappoint. It was the first time anyone except for me had been in an American casino and let's just say it was an eye opener.

Proverb and I had booked the wedding chapel essentially sight unseen, apart from a few small photos on the chapel's website. We checked into the hotel then went to pay a visit to the chapel after getting our marriage license (an interesting fact - Reno's marriage license bureau, located in the county courthouse, is open seven days a week from 8 AM to midnight, holidays included). The chapel is only a block or so from the marriage bureau.

We went. You couldn't miss the place thanks to the BIG neon sign in front that could compete with the local casinos.

The next day we drove around Reno looking for an alternative but could find nothing better, unless we wanted a 'theme' wedding based on the jungle, space, or a cave. We decided we could live with our first choice and if the limo that was going to pick us up from our hotel as part of the package parked right in front of the chapel door, maybe my inlaws wouldn't notice the neon in the daylight.

We did get lucky in finding an excellent restaurant for the after wedding meal. Proverb found it while we were driving up and down the main street. I have no idea how she spotted it since it was a couple of blocks to the side, but it proved to be perfect.

Despite our misgivings, come the wedding day everything worked out better than we could have imagined. The chapel's limousine was beautiful and spotless, the driver well-dressed and extremely professional, and the chapel and staff were everything we could have asked for (well, except for the neon, but it wasn't noticeable in the daylight).

Although it was a chapel, we had a strictly civil ceremony as we plan on having a religious ceremony next year. The justice of the peace that performed the wedding was cheerful, kind and articulate. I can only remember fragments of what she said to us, and what we said to each other, but the chapel gave us transcripts. I'm sure most couples are so excited, nervous, and emotional that few have much idea of what is said, and we were all three. As Proverb would tell you, I rarely show my emotions, but during the brief ceremony I found my eyes getting 'extremely tired' and wet, as did Proverb.

The limousine then took us back to our hotel where Proverb changed into a beautiful red dress for the wedding lunch. The four of us were the only guests at the hotel restaurant. Our window table overlooked a beautiful view of the Truckee river that runs through Reno. The staff was very kind and attentive. The day before when we made the reservation we told the staff that we were coming to celebrate our wedding, and while we didn't expect them to have a wedding cake on hand, asked if the chef could fix some sort of special desert for us. They said yes, a wedding cake on such short notice wouldn't be possible, but they were sure he could create something special.

He did. A wedding cake. We told the waiter as we were seated about the desert situation and halfway during the meal he told me on the side that the pastry chef had decided to make a wedding cake just for us. It was incredible and very, very kind.

It was a perfect day. Who knows what bumps in the road lie ahead, but I am convinced that Proverb and I will cross them together.

To end this post, I would like to quote the Paiute Indian blessing the justice of the peace recited at the close of the ceremony.

* * *

Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be
shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be
warmth to the other.

Now there is no more loneliness,
you are two persons but
with only one life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place,
to enter into the days of your
life together.

And may your days be good
and long upon the earth.

* * *

Even reading it now makes my eyes extremely tired.