An Unforgettable Weekend
Amy and Steve got married this past Saturday, in a wonderful ceremony that was as original as it was inspirational and emotional.
It took place in the Bay Area of California — in the San Mateo hills backyard of one of Steve’s longtime friends. And that friend — Jeff Jonker — not only hosted the wedding — he had obtained a temporary ministerial license so he could conduct the ceremony.
Jeff was excellent — measured, optimistic and reassuring.
He introduced Steve’s sister Kathy and Amy’s brother Bradley, each of whom gave a special reading.
Kathy read passages from the 13th-century poet Rumi. Among them:
“Although I may try to describe Love, When I experience it, I am speechless. Although I may try to write about Love, I am rendered helpless; my pen breaks and the paper slips away at the ineffable place where Lover, Loving and Loved are one. Every moment is made glorious by the light of Love.”
Bradley read passages from the 19th-century Danish theologian and philosopher Kierkegaard. Among them:
“True love is a matter of loving the very person you see. The emphasis is not on loving the perfections, but on loving the person you see. No matter what perfections or imperfections that person might possess. We humans always look upward for the perfect object, but in Christ, love looks down to earth and loves the person it sees. If then, you wish to become perfect in love strive to love the person you see, just as you see him with all his imperfections and weaknesses.”
As these were being read, Steve and Amy sat, holding hands and looking very much like a couple totally in love. They have known each other for years — traveling the world together and experiencing a whole lot of what life has to offer.
And now, they were expressing that love in front of the Moffett and Hart families.
Before they exchanged vows, the song “Better Together” by Jack Johnson was played.
“Love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. Like why are we here? And where do we go? And how come it’s so hard? It’s not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving. I’ll tell you one thing, it’s always better when we’re together.”
After Jeff reflected, movingly, about marriage, he led the Hart and Moffett clans in “the Family Vow,” in which we all promised to celebrate Amy and Steve’s positive milestones as they occur, to support them and offer strength when life introduces challenges into their path, to love them both, as individuals and as a couple, and to have love guide us as we shepherd them on this next stage of their partnership together.
Then Steve and Amy exchanged rings and shared a glass of wine along with a wine blessing from Rumi:
“May these vows and this marriage be blessed. May this marriage be as sweet as milk and honey. May this marriage be as intoxicating as old wine. May this marriage be fruitful like the date palm. May this marriage be full of laughter, and everyday a paradise. May this marriage be a seal of compassion, for here and hereafter. May this marriage be as welcome as the full moon in the night sky.”
A lovely ceremony on a gorgeous, sunny day in the Bay Area.
And then — the most original wedding dinner we’d ever been part of.
It was served inside in four courses — each one involving food and wine that had become special to Amy and Steve during their time and travels around the world together.
Course One was titled “The Alps.” It featured Brie Fondue with Sourdough, Green Apples, Garlic Potatoes and Broccoli.
Course Two was labeled “Oregon.” It featured Arugula Salad and Burrata, and Pizza Capo Style.
Course Three was “Central Coast of California,” featuring Shalimar Chicken, Paneer Tikka Masala and Vegi Korma, Basmati Rice, Mango Chutney and Naan.
And for each of these three courses — wine from the region being celebrated.
Course Four — “The Bay Area” — was the dessert course, featuring Creme Brule with seasonal berries. There was also a surprise — a birthday cake with a big “75” on top — celebrating my birthday the next day.
Yes, I was moved to tears — as I had been a couple of times earlier during this expansive meal, when I toasted the bridge and groom.
(There had been another surprise, at the start of the wedding. The beginning of my earlier-in-the-week live broadcast on KHOI Radio in Ames was played — where I had dedicated the program to Amy and played Peter Nero’s “Amy’s Theme.” I had no idea that was going to be played at the ceremony, and it was emotional to hear it.)
It was a superlative dinner not just because of the cuisine, but because of the conversation. Sharon and I were seated with the other “old-timers” of the Moffett family. She had a delightful conversation with Steve’s dad, Dave, and I had a really good one with Ursula, the wife of Dave’s brother Bill.
The dinner lasted for hours, but the time flew by. All too quickly, we had to take an Uber back, first, to Sharon and my motel south on the peninsula and then to Bradley and Nicole’s, which was closer to the San Francisco Airport.
Our parting was emotional, as I hugged Amy and my new son-in-law, Steve. It had been quite a day, indeed — the only day of my life when I could be called Father of the Bride.
The next day — this past Sunday — Sharon and I drove down into the Valley’s west side and had a truly fine lunch at the Harris Ranch Restaurant, which just might be the best steak place in all of California. It was my 75th birthday, and we had decided to have the meal I really wanted. Thus, Harris Ranch.
Then, Sunday night, Sharon and I were back home again. Amy and Steve had flown to Hawaii for their honeymoon. Soon, they plan to move to Copenhagen.
Bradley and Nicole had flown back to New Orleans, to resume their exciting lives there.
We are so proud that our children are intelligent and energetic and have moved on with their own lives. Sharon and I certainly had done that decades earlier, when we started traveling around the nation for various broadcasting jobs. I’m pretty sure our parents missed us, as we “miss” our children.
Godspeed, kids. This is your life — get out there and love it and live it.
