The Beginning Of The Beginning....September 29, 1999

The Beginning Of The Beginning....September 29, 1999

I struggle with recounting these last couple of weeks in a manner that would give such a precious experience justice.

I'll just begin somewhere around the beginning.

On the 14th, I called The Goddess late in the evening to converse with her about a matter that I had been avoiding. I had been having horrid dreams concerning my pending departure to retrieve her for the wedding, and about becoming stranded on the highway in some remote location where I did not even speak the native language. Given the fact that a great portion of the trip required traveling through Quebec, being remote and ignorant were a distinct possibility if stranded. And becoming stranded was a greater possibility given the manner in which my car was behaving. I bit the bullet and asked her if she would take the bus, and I would pay her ticket. My perpetual dreams seemed to demand I take the situation seriously.

She decided to come on the train with her roommate/bridesmaid. She was not initially impressed, until I conjured an image for her of us getting married in some neon red lighted love shack in Quebec. That was motivation, I dare say.

Wednesday the 15th is more or less a blur. There was not a great deal I could do in preparation for the wedding, as there were still matters to be settled after The Goddess' arrival. Given the fact that I took the week off, there was little for me to do period. I probably spent a great deal of time either in the throws of pre-wedding anxiety, or trying to alleviate the anxiety through slumber. Either way, I remember little.

Thursday, the 16th, with two days to go, saw a flurry of activity that began first thing in the morning. I borrowed Lowlandz' mini-van (heh heh) so that I could drive the two hours to the train station both safely and with room for The Bride, Bridesmaid, and sorted cargo. It was a good thing Lowlandz was as gracious as he was. I would not have made it back with just my Sunfire. Brides are not known for travelling lightly.

I had been hoping that by leaving early, we would be back by early afternoon. I should have suspected that due to the nature of all that activity, things would not go smoothly. What I had anticipated to be a five hour trip max turned into an eight hour excursion. First, there was a great deal of construction happening on the highway. Second, the train was an hour late. Third, The Goddess wanted to visit with her Aunt. Fourthly, there was the same construction on the way back. Fifthly, we needed to take a couple smoke breaks along the way.

It was so good to see her again, after almost six months apart. I was filled with a certain pre-marital glee.

By the time we got back into town and traded vehicles again, it was too late for us to get the marriage licence as we had planned to do. Instead, I dropped The Goddess and her one woman entourage off at my soon to be mother-in-law's. The first thing Mom asked was where the marriage licence was.

She was not pleased to hear we had to put off getting it until the next day.

The Goddess, transferring her mother's angst onto me, picked a fight as I was leaving to go home and rest for a few minutes before that evening's scheduled Testrofest/Bachelor Party.

With visions of beer, pool, and munchies, I bid a seething Bride-Beast adieu.

As my weary carcass must now do with you.

....Blessed Be...