Joy and Sadness

The day arrived. It was a bit of a stormy season and thunderstorms were expected that day. It was a little windy but the rain held off and we even saw the sun. We had asked Don Stephens to officiate the ceremony to which he graciously obliged. However, we weren’t quite sure if he could legally do so. The ship chaplain, Jack Hill was also standing by to officially pronounce us man and wife at the end.

As Laura walked down the aisle, she winked. It took me by surprise and I turned to Samuel incredulously only to hear him say, 

                “She just winked at me.” 

Don began by telling everyone the story of how he had been praying for Laura the year before and felt like a big change was coming for her and that he was happy to be part of the fulfillment of that change.

Yet, despite this being a day of joy, there was an underlying sadness to it. I really missed my father and wished he could have been there. I was contending with a depth of emotion about this in my heart and soul and many others there who knew him could feel it too. Don made mention of him right away. 

There was some comic relief, however. As I have often pointed out, despite the amazing life I had had so far, I had had comparatively little resources to do it with. Most of the people there knew that. So when we came to the part where Don asked me to repeat after him, “All my worldly possessions, I give to you”, people started laughing.

Also, Samuel had forgotten to bring black socks to the wedding and the ones he was wearing were a bright pinky/purple color. His pants were long enough that you couldn’t see the socks but backstage before the ceremony, Don and Tom made a small bet with Samuel that when it came time to hand over the rings, if he pulled up his pant leg to reveal his sock, they would give him $5 each. He did. Of course, Laura had no idea what was happening. She thought that he couldn’t find the rings. But after the slight delay, we carried on and Samuel got paid (even if Don had to borrow some money from his son to do so).

We had a small reception in the church’s fellowship hall while we took pictures in the church, some of which still bring up controversy in the family to this day. Despite the fact that Laura’s sister, Carolyn was engaged to be married in just a couple more months, it was decided that since her fiance, Chuck was not officially part of the family yet, he would not be in the pictures. 

I have to say that I did agree with the decision. You just never know what might happen. If he had been in the pictures and for some reason, they had not been married, then that would have been rather awkward. Chuck still begs to differ. He argues that, as far as he is concerned, it was already a done deal. And it was even his grandmother who picked the church we got married in.

On the limousine ride to the ship reception, I cried. Laura understood. The irony is that if my dad had still been alive, the circumstances that led to this day would not have occurred and there probably would be no wedding. And although I really loved my dad, I loved my new wife more.

We had also previously discovered another poignant thing to do with my dad and us. He wasn’t much of a writer but he used to record and send messages to me on cassette tapes. At the end of them he would pray for me, including for my “partner in life”. I still have some of the tapes.

Well one day he had been on the Anastasis and had a meeting with all the people from the school, including Laura. At the end he began to pray for each person and when he came to Laura he prayed for her “partner in life” even though he hadn’t been doing that for anyone else. We still wonder if he had any inkling. The prayer was recorded and we also still have that cassette tape. 

The gangway of the ship was lined with children on both sides, welcoming us with decorated arches. The reception was set up in the forward Dining Room. It was buffet-style and we did the usual meet and greet around the tables. Perry Balcom was the MC for the evening.

Perry opened the microphone for anyone who wanted to say something and my uncle Ronnie was one of several people who took advantage of it. He said that he was very humbled to be in my father’s shoes. It made him proud when people told him he looked like him. He said it was worth the 40-hour trip for that alone. He also welcomed Laura into the Williams family.

Arriving on the ship up the gangway for the reception