Hi everyone, Sorry for the silence over the past several days. I have been traveling across the west and southwest, have attended a family wedding, have traveled some more, and am now in our Texas house, where a train whistle is blaring out in the night, sounding just like it did when I was growing up some fifty years prior. The air is so cool we have all the windows open and I can hear the crickets outside, too, which always makes me feel settled and happy.
I had a glorious time at a family wedding, seeing people I love and dancing all night long. The Greek Orthodox traditions, such as having crowns on the bride and groom and their walking with the priest around the altar as their first walk as husband and wife, are lovely and the chanting throughout the service reminded me just how ancient the wedding ritual is. All in all, the best wedding I’ve attended in years. Just so happy for everyone there.
Now I am heading to bed. I just wanted to check in and let you know that I am still honoring my 20 minutes of writing a day. I just took a few days off to refresh.
Happy evening. Talk soon. Are you out traveling? Where are you off to? Please share your thoughts in the Comments section. Or else, share a wedding tradition you like.
Night.
20 Minutes a Day 
Not much traveling these days due to my husband’s health. But I enjoy armchair travels…Frances Mayes’ books about Tuscany, Jacqueline Winspear’s mysteries set in 1930’s England, even Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street series. One wedding custom we chose for our wedding almost 49 years ago was continued when our youngest son and his bride chose to have the prayer of St. Francis used in their ceremony. But they made their own unique choices, too. They surprised both sets of parents by having us all walk down the aisle together instead of the bride alone. That was very meaningful since our son is blind. The beginning remarks were addressed to all of us and extended family and we even had vows in which we made a covenant of support for their new beginning as a family.
Yes, armchair travels can be almost as much fun as the real thing and so much cheaper! Also, I love hearing that your son continued the wedding custom of the prayer of St. Francis. What a lovely prayer. And for those who don’t know it, here it is:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
What could be more perfect for a wedding? Wonderful.