Beth's Wedding
Saturday 20 September 2008 was a very special day for me, although not as special as it was for Beth. I took the bus, Eastern Transport, from Baltimore to New York City for this special occasion. I arrived at the Baltimore Travel Plaza in plenty of time, but was extremely disappointed to find no parking available. I did find a spot on the street.
I also saw MTA dropping the ball. A woman with two young girls, about three years of age, ran to catch the bus. One girl lost a shoe first and then fell flat on her face. The woman was right in front of the bus and the drive just pulled off. She must had been a student of the Bob Newhouse's bus driver academy. I am sure that MTA did not teach her that.
While waiting for the bus, I met Chris and then Mariam, two delightful young people. Mariam's sister was already on the bus from Washington DC and she kept us informed of the bus status. I got off my bus two blocks from the church. It was such a blessing to me to return to a church which I visited while in the seminary and Archdeacon Michael and Fr. Christopher both remembered me. Before the wedding, a woman came in off the street and wanted to see the inside of the temple, so I showed her. I explained to her that we were having a wedding and that I am from Baltimore, not New York.
After the wedding, rice was thrown. I think that I got more on me than the bridal couple. I went across the street and made this comment to a couple standing there and then I noticed the beanie on the man and greeted him with "Shalom." He appreciated that. He asked me what was happening and I told him that we just had a wedding ceremony and the reception is across the street at the cemetery. I then explained to him the Russian custom of visiting the graves of loved ones and having picnics there. He loved that idea. He is the rabbi of a local synogague.
After the reception in the cemetery, we had a dinner in the church hall. I had to catch a bus, so I could not stay for the dinner. I was there just for the beginning.
On the way home I showed the photos to a Chinese woman and she said that some of our customs are the same as some of theirs. She was impressed by the wedding.
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