Why, you may ask, have I been so silent? Well....let me tell you!
First, after purchasing and moving into the lovely little house pictured in the last post, my next order of business was getting married. That's right! Chris and I got hitched on September 27, 2008.
Our slightly unconventional ceremony took place on the grounds of the Stephen Leacock Museum, which is on Lake Couchiching in Orillia. The day started out drizzly, but started clearing around noon so we were able to stay outside! We had no bridal party, but my cousin Mary and Chris' brother Matt were our "witnesses". The aisle I walked down was made of trees, and I was facing the guests as I arrived. And Chris and I chose to say a little thank you to our guests at the beginning of the ceremony, to tell them what it meant to us that they were there with us. These were little changes to the "tradition" that made the day mean so much more to me.
After the ceremony, we had dinner with 50 of our nearest and dearest at the local Ossawippi Dining Cars - a restaurant comprised of several train cars. We were very pleased to have an "all vegan" meal - carrot/ginger soup, thai asian salad, a trio of stuffed pepper, cabbage roll & vegetarian wellington served on a bed of tomato basil sauce for the main course, and a german chocolate cake for dessert.
....Then, we boogied all night in the Party Room back at the Leacock. Here, Chris and I sang a song to our guests, after having serenaded each other with surprise songs. We also had live music from my 10-year old niece Michaela, our friend Anil, and my cousin Mary. We snacked on homemade hummus and salsa, with pitas and nacho chips, and homemade vegan cookies too! (not to mention leftover apples and trail mix from the ceremony)..... since I was forcing everyone to eat vegan for the day, I wanted to make sure no one went home hungry!!!
It was an absolutely amazing day. Unforgettable! Several people had told me beforehand that it would go by in a flash, and they were so right. But as much as it flew by, I remember it so clearly and every time I think about it I feel so loved!
After the wedding, Chris had to go back to work rather quickly (time of the year = not so good for holiday) so we just had a long weekend to recuperate. Then, I started my new job as Executive Director at Hospice Orillia on Oct 6, 2008! It has been quite the whirlwind since then, because things never seem to slow down at the Hospice. I can do another post soon to explain a bit more about my job.
For now, I leave you with the e.e. cummings poem that was read during our ceremony:
i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
