20 years and counting

20 years ago today, I married my friend, my soul mate, my companion for life. We have shared good times and bad, laughed and cried, argued and made-up. It hasn’t been a “happily ever after” story, but it’s a story that we have lived together and plan on ending together.

I thought I would share our wedding day with you. Stick with me through the mushy stuff, you won’t regret it.

We were married at St Johns Melkite Church in Atlanta, Ga. This is an Eastern Rite Catholic Church. I mention this because the ceremony is a little different than a regular Catholic wedding. It is full of symbolic rituals. It was a small wedding, just family and a few friends. I wore a white dress with fur on it. Yes, fur. And I wore a veil. My father walked me up the aisle and with tears in his eyes (I think they were tears of joy, he's finally getting rid of me...only 7 more to go) gave me to the man I was to spend the rest of my life with. Now you have to understand that my husband is not Catholic but agreed to be wed in the Catholic Church because it was important to me. The first ritual that stands out are the crowns Monsignor placed on our heads. These were exchanged between us three times, then we had a procession around the alter 3 times. (The number 3 being symbolic of the Trinity) On the 3rd time around my dear husband leans over to his father (who is his best man) and quietly says “Put your money on Pat, she’s in the lead” I squeezed his hand to make him hush. After this came the ring ceremony where we exchanged rings 3 times. It really was a beautiful ceremony. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. We said our vows then he kissed me gently and we proceeded down the aisle. There is a picture of him looking at his watch as he is walking down. I’m sure he’s thinking (okay, it’s Miller time, lets get this show on the road!)

The reception was held in a hall right behind the church. Everyone proceeded back there where my mother had done a wonderful job setting up a banquet sized table with lots of food and goodies. My cake was made by the mother of a friend of mine. The whole wedding ceremony and reception was caught on video tape, so I can prove all of this is a true story. This is where it gets good. My husbands friend was there playing his sax up on the stage and alternating with playing the piano had everyone out on the dance floor. He can play the sax like no other!! Any instrument for that matter. When it came time for the toast my husband and I were standing at the table and our drinks were poured and we waited for everyone else to have their glasses filled. My other half decides that he doesn’t want to wait for everyone else and takes a sip of his glass. I quietly tell him to stop and wait. He takes another sip. I jab him, Then in the back ground you hear his Uncle say “He’s been tasting it for 2 years now!” Oh I wanted to cringe. Then my husband starts to make some toast that goes something like this…”Heres to the breezes that lifts the skirts above the knees’es” I don’t know the whole thing but I hushed him up real quick. I don’t even recall the ‘real’ toast.

Some time after that I find that my brothers are putting on a fashion show on the stage. It was a hoot how they were describing their suits and shoes. Everyone had a good time. As the last few people are leaving I decide it is time for me to go back to the church and change out of my gown. My best friend, who was my maid of honor, goes with me and when I finally get done I come out to find the reception hall locked and everyone has left. Everyone! I go back to the church to call my mom (who lived right around the corner) to ask her to come and pick me up. She asks where I am and I told her "stranded at the church!" Seems she thought I was with Karl and I don’t know who Karl thought I was with. Apparently he had gone back to the hotel with his buddy and they had passed out. So, here I am sitting on the front of the church steps with my wedding gown draped across my lap and my mother comes to pick me up and brings me back to her house. A little while later dear hubby shows up with his buddy. A few other people had gathered at mom’s house so we continued with some merriment, piano playing and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon there.

Well it starts to get late so hubby and I bid our farewells for the night and head back to the hotel. My wedding day is about to come to an end. Because of work schedules we were not able to take a true honeymoon immediately following the wedding but at least we had our own room for the night. Maybe I should stop here. No? You want details? Ok, you asked for it. Hubby fell asleep while I stayed up late into the night watching “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” True story.

It may not have been the most romantic wedding day ever, but it is a day I will always remember!