Creating a More Perfect Union

Self,

Today I attended my first gay marriage ceremony.

One of the grooms was a fellow member of my bookclub. I initially wasn't going to attend, for pratical reasons. The ceremony was located in Palm Springs, a two hour drive from me. I really wasn't trying to spend money on a wedding gift. Those kinds of things.

However, with my recent thoughts about the importance of gay marriages, my own curiosity about how the couple would conduct their ceremony, and not to mention the urging from other bookclub members, I decided to attend.

It was nice. The invitation said the ceremony would start promptly at noon. The exact wording was Noon SHARP - lol they started late. (Ain't that just like Black folks!)

I forgot my camera, but I did manage to take a couple shots with my phone.

The groom who was a member of my bookclub is the bald, brown skin gentleman with his back to the camera. His husband is the other bald, brown skin gentleman standing directly across from him in the white.

The house the ceremony and reception was held at was beautiful. In addition to it's own architectual design glamour it was decked out in its holiday festive decor - including two Christmas trees that were easily 10ft tall if not more.

As I said I didn't take a lot of pictures so the only other one I took was of the cake of course. Which I now realized I left without getting a piece, but I had to leave when the driver said he was ready to go.

As you can see the cake also carried the beauty of the holiday season. What I thought was very unique and special is the cake topper. Most cereonies of course usually have plastic figurines of a couple either a bride and groom or two brides or two grooms. As you can see this couple strayed from that and have an etched glass plaque or trophy.

I really like this idea, not just for homosexual marriages but ALL marriages. For one thing it is more astectly pleasing to the eye then those plasic couples. The other is that it serves as a much better visual reminder of the couples commitment to each other.

I'm sure most people know of the tradition that the top tier of the wedding cake is suppose to be saved by the couple to enjoy on their first anniversary. When the couple is pissed at each other, what use will the cake and that plastic couple be to the real individuals if it's stuck in the freezer. Not to mention after the real couple makes it through that first anniversary and the cake has been eaten and the plastic folks thrown in the trash..or stuffed in a box in the garage. However, under the same situation, if this glass piece is sitting over the fireplace, on a dresser, or in a curio cabinet, the pissed off couple might rethink their positions and discuss things with their mate after getting a glance at it.

Anyway, I know it's hard to see, but on this plaque the couples names and today's date is engraved on one side of the heart-shaped glass. I wasn't able to read the inscription on the other side. However I have a strong feeling that it was romantic and endearing.

Lesson here:

Love is out there, and so there's still hope for me.

Sincerely,

Pharaoh