aMMusing

Every few minutes after Fernando and I exchanged vows, Stephanie would tease us and ask, “So, how does it feel now?” In truth, it felt surreal — both during the actual ceremony and in the moments that followed. “Is this a real wedding?” Fernando mused with the guests. “Where are the mariachis?” And later, once prompted again about how it felt, I think I embarrassed Fernando with my effusiveness and said: “I feel overwhelmingly happy because I’m realizing I just married the most beautiful man in the world.”

Our first weekend as a married couple was mellow and pleasant, marked by a certain serenity as the momentousness of what we have done sunk in. On Saturday we went to Peggy’s Cove and later went out for a lovely dinner with Jain at Halifax’s best Thai restaurant. Sunday, Fernando called his mamá and then we went shopping at Pete’s Frootique, saw the pictures from Friday night for the first time, and came back home for supper and watched the Academy Awards.

But how does it feel now for me, as I return to the routine of work? Well, as corny as it is, I told Fernando I didn’t think it would be possible, but I feel like I’ve fallen in love with him all over again on Friday night. In a sense — although certainly not completely — the Whore of Babylon has been tamed. For as the fox explained to the little prince, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Never would I have thought, but…

– Maurice Yvan Michaud, will you take Fernando Revilla Espinosa here present to be your partner, to have and to hold and to be faithful to him from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, so long as you both shall live?

– I will. And as a token of the solemn vows of this marriage, I, Maurice Yvan Michaud , give this ring — a symbol of love, friendship, and loyalty.

February 22, 2008

No other words — I repeat no other! — could have filled me with more joy.

The Queen of Sheba hosted and Grand Poobah of Culinary Delights prepared the most wonderful, intimate wedding reception we could have ever imagined. Present were the Queen’s daughter and her partner, the Queen’s son, and the incomparable BeeGoddessM and Stephanie. And to our mutual delight, Cleopatrick called us during the dinner — another true mutual friend in the same league as Jorge and Alejandro and Jovana back in Mexico.

Also making a surprise appearance: an unexpected 10-centimetre snowfall. There must be irony therein; I never expected I would marry, let alone in the dead of a Canadian winter, and, until two weeks ago, Fernando had never seen snow. Or, perhaps rather than irony, the snow crystallized what neither of us ever expected would happen in our lives. It is -6C in Halifax while I write this, but 17C in Mexico City.

My beautiful loving spouse is sleeping now. We both indulged in much wine tonight, and clearly he is feeling its punch a bit more than I am. But, at least for now, he is near me — very near in every way — and that’s all that matters.

Pictures coming soon.

One can’t even begin to comprehend an image like this.

The caption for this photo, taken from this story, is even more devastating.

Apartment residents throw a baby to firefighters in Ludwigshafen. The baby was rescued by the firemen. It’s not known if the parents survived.
(Rene Werse/AFP/Getty Images)

“Nine people were killed in a German apartment building fire that led to desperate residents tossing young children out the windows to firefighters,” the story explains. “Police said more than 50 people — all Turkish citizens — were registered as living in the building, but more people were inside because of carnival celebrations.”

A bunch of brown people stuck in a blaze in a squalid building in a land where they’re not wanted… We see a lot of horrible stuff on the news, but this one item I find shattering beyond belief. It has been haunting me since I first saw it this afternoon.

El Poema and I have come to terms with the fact that we’re a little bit crazy.

This week we spent a lot of time planning our big day. To be truthful, before this week, I didn’t know anything about the Cartier trinity ring portrayed here. And now here we are: that is what we selected as our wedding bands. In the 1920s, Jean Cocteau adopted it and turned it into a symbol, where the three interlocking rings represent the three virtues of love: loyalty, honesty, and romance. Not, as the Queen of Sheba feared, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

We have a date set — soon, obviously — but we’re giving ourselves license to postpone if, at the last minute, we feel we’re rushing too much. In other words, if we feel we’re being a bit TOO crazy.

Last night, needing to escape from anything resembling planning or work, I spontaneously decided to get off my arse and head to the movies to see Juno.

I wanted to see for myself what’s all the hype about Ellen Page, the Halifax-native who’s been nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Juno MacGuff. And let me tell you: I understand why she got the nod. Mind you, I don’t think the hometown girl is going to get it given who she’s up against, but she has a long career ahead of her, and as long as “The Tiny Canadian” doesn’t get typecast, this won’t be her last nomination.

Juno is a nice, light film. Diablo Cody’s script is brilliant and witty. Page’s delivery is excellent, as is Allison Janney‘s and J.K. Simmons‘. Janney was the furthest thing from C.J. in The West Wing, as Simmons was from creepy Vern Schillinger in Oz.

Do I recommend that you go see this movie? Sure, why not. But since it’s not the kind of flick that requires a big screen to enjoy, you could wait until it’s released on DVD. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.