A Beautiful Day

Postponed a week due to the NSW State Elections, two very special people, Robbie and Margaret, whom I endearingly look upon as role models in my life, got married. We have a very unique relationship with them and our other dear friend, Anne, who introduced us at different times. We have now branched off on another tangent when Robbie unofficially "inaugurated" us into his own biological family a few months ago.

It was held at beautiful Nielsens Park and since it was Robbie's third and Margaret's second wedding, it was a rather laid back outdoor affair where there weren't any of the usual white wedding marches and elaborate food catering. Instead, we were treated to a glorious celebration of love, joy, commitment and familial camaderie. All guests were requested to bring a dish of food to celebrate the occasion and this resulted in a myraid of cultural tastings and colours.

John made his famous chicken salad whereas Anne and I made a non alcoholic cocktail, which surprisingly turned out to be really popular, resulting in much leftover alcohol. Rain threatened most of the week but the actual day turned out to be a cloudless with slightly warmer temperatures, which really complimented the joyous occasion.

Since Robbie is a Christian and Margaret a Buddhist, this was a hybrid ceremony where two separate vows of love were exchanged. Understated but garnered with beautiful words of love and commitment, it was the perfect wedding. There were a few hilarious moments when Margaret made a small error in her vows but it just helped to really lighten the mood and made it even more memorable. There was also the tying of their hands with a piece of red string as they read their vows which was originated from ancient times signifying the act of "bonding".

Robbie's musically talented children, Will and Heather serenaded us with Jazz and Classical performances separately throughout the celebrations. Heather played the violin as the couple signed their marriage certificates and that moment was just simply ethereal. It left quite John and Anne with a view that ceremony and traditions are seldom celebrated and as the younger forsake them, it might eventually become a novelty one day. We loved the peaceful and loving union and John exclaimed that this was just the kind of wedding he wants one day. Maybe not a gay wedding, but a civil union, if and when the State Government passes such a law. Of course this would must be complimented with my outing, if not, it would not be recognised. We believe that the fundamental recognition of our love is of utmost importance, regardless of the name given the union, because our love is no less.



After the exchange of the vows, we indulged on the food, talk and drinks while the night sky descended on us. We proceeded with the cake cutting ceremony and then speeches from a few people, including the bride and groom. Interestingly, almost all the people there with mental disability, which is a big and significant group of people in the couple's lives spoke of their fondness for the couple. Some of it was really rather R rated (like it is time for you to kiss deeply now) but affectionate nonetheless.

Robbie, ever the eloquent and motivational speaker moved us all with his dedication of love to Margaret and Margaret's son, Misha, a beautiful man, filled all our eyes and souls with tears and emotion. He invited us all to project the couple into a space faraway in time and place in our minds, may it be a cruise in the Carribean or anything/anywhere you want them to be, and to be doing. Take a minute to do so, silence, and then he asked us all to thrust it into the universe. Now, isn't that beautiful?

I also came out of my "retirement" to make them a present. I used to make birthday cards for my friends and my theme is usually to inject humour into those cards with my long message of love in the middle. What I basically do is to cut their faces out from photos and then paste them onto posters with funny snippets next to them. I did so many of them at one time that I faced burnt out, and then I stopped. I really wanted to make one of them for this occasion, but the motivation was low. It wasn't till two days before the wedding that I decided that I would make it, and thankfully, I still managed to pull it off in approximately 7 hours. It was a labour of love fully appreciated by them and I am so happy that I did it.

Robbie and Margaret, Thank You both for being in my life and constantly showering us with love and support. May all of our blessings and wishes come true for the two of you, somewhere in the time and universe ...