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Thursday, September 4, 2008
An (Almost) Kosher Wedding...
  Gail's Wedding – Take Two
So, you get married and two years later you discover you’re not considered married. Fiction? Fantasy? Horror? I guess that depends on one’s state of (un)wedded bliss. For us, it was reality.
Progressing merrily along in (un)married togetherness, we’d arrived at that momentous of decisions - to have a baby.
We’d tested our parental readiness on an unsuspecting Newfoundland puppy and neither we nor the pup suffered any lasting ill effects. Granted, I’d unintentionally let the dog eat my glasses, and my sewing kit, but in the end it all came out okay. So accidents aside, we felt equipped (almost) for parenthood. Woo hoo! Enough practicing!
In Judaism a child is considered Jewish if the mother is Jewish. Oops! I’m deficient in that area. We rectify the impediment with a conversion at a Reform synagogue.
This is when we learned that according to Jewish law, we were not considered married. No problem. We have prior experience! Back under the chupah we go.
N.B. In case there’s any concern, we were considered married under the laws of Ontario. Phew!
When Wedding Number Two finally occurs, I’m visibly pregnant (practice makes perfect!). We handle this in our usual, understated style … with invites, ‘Come, see a pregnant blushing bride. Come, enjoy a kosher pig-out.’
That much I remember. Beyond that, it’s a blur. I blame my pregnancy, but apparently there was collective memory loss about that day. However, two key players donated the following recollections:
My dearest love: ‘I circled you seven times. Each time I had to step off the platform because it was so small. However, I wasn’t late for this wedding! My sister and her boyfriend (now husband) missed most of the ceremony but they were picking up ice for the reception (a down-home barbeque at our place). And, we filled the bathtub with said ice to cool the beer and wine.’
Thanks, darling! That’s more than I remembered. :)
My brilliant maid of honour: ‘Recollections of the wedding??? Me--the no memory girl??? Who ARE you anyway?? I remember there was a Japanese girl there.’
WTG, Lori! Noriko, a lovely Japanese exchange student, was staying with us. I bet she’s happily married now.
Thanks to this blog, I discovered we have no pregnant wedding photos. I looked! However, I recall saying the beautiful words from the Song of Songs - ‘Ani l'Dodi v'Dodi Li.’ (I alone am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine, ...). This Hebrew inscription hangs in our home. Plus, everyday I walk by proof of this wedding - my ketubah. The wedding contract a groom gives a bride during the ceremony.
It hangs beside the others in an area I’ve dubbed ‘Ketubah Row.’ Most Jewish couples have one. We’re blessed with three.
Three? Ahh, you’ve done the math. Next time - how our children helped us finally get it right, plus which relative revived the family tradition of nearly missing our wedding.
2007 Golden Heart Finalist Gail Fuller
15 Comments:
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What an interesting story. No wonder you were a golden heart finalist. You have a such a humorous and attractive writing style. I was rivetted all the way through your post. I'll be back to read the next installment.
- September 4, 2008 at 4:09 AM
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Can't wait for the next installment.
Peace, Julie
- September 4, 2008 at 5:33 AM
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"Granted, I’d unintentionally let the dog eat my glasses, and my sewing kit, but in the end it all came out okay."
Care to rephrase that, Gail? LOL. I hope you weren't looking to use them again.
Seriously, as the owner of a Bernese Mountain Dog which is only margianally smaller than a Newfoundland, I empathise :) When you purchase a child-substitute you don't mess around, do you!
Looking forward to wedding # 3...
- September 4, 2008 at 5:44 AM
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Way to go, Gail. Anything worth doing is worth doing...thrice? LOL Can't wait to see what #3 brings.
- September 4, 2008 at 8:19 AM
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Many thanks, Janet, Julie, Hannah and Pat! :)
>Care to rephrase that, Gail? LOL. I hope you weren't looking to use them again.
LOL! Yes, well, you'll be relieved to learn that I did get new pair of glasses! *VBG* Guess I should have mentioned that, eh? LOL! Hey, Hannah, we thought about getting a Bernese Mountain Dog. It was the next breed on our list. We believe in having little dogs. :) Since then, we've had a Great Dane and presently have a lovely Irish Wolfhound. I blame the large dog breed addiction on never getting that pony I'd wanted when I was little. *VBG*
- September 4, 2008 at 10:05 AM
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I was thinking more along the lines of the needles in the poor dog!!!! OUCH. Was he all right later?
I don't have story #3 yet - or the fascinating story #4 I only know hints about...can't wait for either!
Melissa
- September 4, 2008 at 10:35 AM
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Thankfully, ours was a huge bouncing baby puppy. :) Her massive size helped pass the acquired objects uneventfully. :) Oiy! The headaches our children (furry and otherwise) give us, eh? *g*
As for stories #3 and #4, I'm on it! Thanks! :)
- September 4, 2008 at 10:58 AM
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Can't wait to hear about #3. I like the saying you have in your home! I like that you "practiced". LOL.
- September 4, 2008 at 1:32 PM
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Thanks so much, Brandy! Yes, thank goodness our practicing paid off. :) And I have the pictures to prove it! A-hem, that would be pictures of the end product, not the practicing part. *VBG* Phew!
- September 4, 2008 at 2:05 PM
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LOL! re practicing on your dog Gail. And being from a Greek Orthodox background, i understand the part of civil ceremonies not being considered 'legit' by the laws of a religion. Do you think it's just an excuse for another party?!! Love that your beloved remembered the bit about the ice - you can never have too much ice!! (well in the land of Oz you can't *grin*). Thanks for sharing Gail. Can't wait for number 3!
- September 6, 2008 at 1:53 AM
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btw gail - we are adjusting from having a big dog - a Rottweiler to what we consider a medium dog - an American Staffy. Gotta love our four legged friends. Our current on is into chewing anything plastic - including the garden hose - and wooden - including the verandah post! LOL! They sure make life interesting.
- September 6, 2008 at 1:56 AM
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Hi Eleni! Sorry for the delayed response. It was a busy weekend.
Yes, any excuse for another party. LOL! As for your puppy, I wasn't sure what an American Staffordshire looked like so I Googled it. :) They're adorable! Good luck keeping your veranda and the garden hose intact! *VBG* Thanks to our dear Wolfhound, we have teeth marks in the kitchen chairrail. She never went after my glasses, but she chomped my husband's cell phone to bits. *g*
I agree with Linda, you should blog about Greek weddings. I loved My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
- September 8, 2008 at 8:57 AM
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No worries Gail about the response time. Glad you think the American Staffys are adorable. Ours has a broad head which I love. And at 18 months, he's still in puppy mode for sure. Ouch, re your husband's cell phone, especially if important numbers/info is on it. *g*
I love the movie MBFGW too. Though slightly different to what I've been through. I have been a bridesmaid enough times to blog about it too! LOL!
- September 8, 2008 at 11:50 PM
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Gail, your wedding stories are fabulous! Looking forward to #3.
And when you post it, can we have a photo of the Newfoundland? Sounds adorable! :)
- September 9, 2008 at 5:00 AM
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Rachel, Forgive me for not posting sooner. It's been an insanely busy time. Sorry.
On a bright note, my hubby just bought a scanner so once I figure it out (wish me luck! *g*), I'll upload a picture of our dear Newfoundland 'baby.' Thanks!
All the best,
Gail :)
- September 16, 2008 at 10:35 AM
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