Flesh of my flesh!

October 18, 1991
At the alter with fan fare and garb, we giggled our way through the ceremony and chuckled to one another, eyes locked we drowned in each others fellowship. The bond and union we shared was already present, long before this day of solemnization but God needed to make it official, you know the nuptials and so on. That evening in front of two hundred witnesses, expectant faces and women graced in finest their apparel's with clean shaven men tucked into their suit and ties, dysfunctional family and estranged parents, our union was made official, two had become one, the flesh of my flesh in the sight of God and what God has put together, Let no man put asunder!
We were destined to be together long before the day we first met. Our search for love was weak but the desire impregnating God's throne room from our then single hearts was overwhelming. This consecration which is of God in His most flawless timing was ever so powerful, leading us across continents towards one another and through cataclysmic phenomena. Our Father produced such perfect scenarios and drew us in proximity perfection of one another. What the oceans couldn't separate nor could man himself divide, God accomplished.
The affair was very social, neither quaint nor was it opulent but meek and tender with garments of white we entered the improvised chapel, a factory unit come church, already as one, both now standing in pole position, the position of honor awaiting the traditionalism of vows and other formalities. The brides maids and grooms men were nervous with strangled smiles, their speech a little clumsy, non the less looking perfect, slenderly tall in dashing white tuxes and rich white leather shoes, whilst the women were draped in long gowns of sapphire, accompanied with corsages of red velvet roses and regal purpled irises.
Candles romanced the tables and delicate flowers trained the length of them, guests sat in fine company and the chatter dimmed as the bride entered. Lace and veil, lavished the bride to be while her smile lit the room with elegant ambiance delighting the invitee's. Soft music piped through the church, with the sweet fragrances of violins and cellos sweeping the bride softly down the paths of matrimony as she embraced her fathers arm. Little did we know that this would be the very last tender moment father and daughter would ever share. Nine years later the very same corsage was placed on her fathers lapel as he lay still in his fine timber coffin. Presenting of the bride to the groom was swept with emotion as the groom stood with tear filled eyes. Gentle reassurance came from the bride with a simple smile speaking of peace in beauty's wisdom. A hush calmed the inner man as the ceremony continued. Choruses of joy were sung and beautiful vows of passion exchanged, golden rings symbolized the endless love of this consummate circle, perfection and simplicity a wedding of promise under an open heaven. A kiss sweet complete, the auditorium erupted in applause as the bride and groom entered their future together, now as one.
A plump menu awaited us full of appetizers, main courses and dazzling desserts, the brass band banged out familiar hits and dancing possessed many as the of laughter children rang out when running through the chapel. The time for cake the traditional cutting ceremony with a rich torte of almond flaked custard. No white tiers of traditional dark fruit and marzipan, clustered with floral pieces, but rather our choice of fun eatable dessert the knife slicing through the exquisite yellow layers of torte and sponge. Filled with custard and silky cream we engorged ourselves with handsome amounts of this delicacy lavished with rum. We sang and rattled on throughout the course of the evening, glasses chinking, snapshots of merriment, staged portraits and the night slipped away. We'd all had our fill of giddiness then the car was readied to whisk us both away into the small hours. The driveway was filled with guests and applause, tears of joy gently fell from our parents faces as we drove by and waved, headed off in the direction of our future. A future not yet chartered but purposed in hearts through devotion.
We honeymooned in the sun and sand and slept in crisp white cotton sheets. As we lay in on the easy mornings sheer linen drapes swayed back and forth as the gentle sea breeze cooled our apartment. Room service lavished us with dark aromatic coffee and sumptuous breakfasts in luxury. We were the king and queen of our lives, our own small kingdom and now royalty graced this sun drenched palace on the golden coasts of Queensland. Laughter encompassed us as we flaunted our love walking the busy strip. Lunches and shopping traditional tourism amidst dozens of other newly weds. One afternoon for no other reason than to humour ourselves we plastered licorice on our teeth blacking them out taking photographs gasping for breath as we both streamed tears from hysterical laughter. We had our fill of lazy afternoon strolls on the beach and just being in each others company, this truly was paradise as the sun went down and the night lights turned up their volume.
Subtlety and romance and half crested moons filled the air, our love just seemed to swoon in the glow of dusk at the beach. It was memorable it was heaven and this was ordained of God.

Eventually the two of us would become five in total, also with another, a child awaiting our arrival in Heaven. He dwells in the arms of our Lord!
Intoxicated by each other still and never a lack of communion, we seek out each other if only for a moment one has vanished into another room. Separation is not a part of who we've become, it cannot exist as the darkness cannot exist where there is light. Our lives are filled with precious moments and memories of laughter and together we entertain life itself, its pleased with our charm. There is no reasoning to compare what has taken place, the miraculous wonderment of marriage holds us as one. We are bound by something sacred and rare, something so reminiscent of undying loves in past centuries, something ancient is shared.
Yet with still many years to embrace and scores to write, we will live on through better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do us part. Then one day without sorrow our love will echo into the shadows of yesterday and tomorrow we will be remembered only by those who new us, by those who tasted what we have shared in, this hastened vapour called life. How tragic is the man who never encounters true love nor the wealth of another soul devoted entirely to him, a complete heart let alone the fortitude of offspring and the receipt of their love. The day will come and we'll forget the rewards of commitment, the treasures of faithfulness along with the pleasures of giving and delivering compromise, along with the sentiment of preferring one another. Then as we pass by, we'll gaze once more to the blessings of our love manifested, our children.....For then eternity awaits our arrival to complete the ensemble of love, where marriage will be no longer but where perfection exists, where friendships will always remain in truth forever, in Eternity.

Rinaldo