Our Favorite "Little" Story

Recognize this guy?

 

All Images and Text via Home.Pacific.Net 

Back in the somewhat-early days of our relationship I had a surgical procedure performed.  This procedure took me out of commission for a few days, as I spent most of my time eating pudding and laying on the couch in a painkiller induced haze.  Lucky me, I had the best nurse in the world around to help me recuperate, Mr. Marmalade!   One day, while in this haze I asked Mr. M to read me a story, and not just any story--I asked him to read my favorite children's book, The Little Prince.   For the record I blame those crazy pain pills for that amazing request. Although I am really happy the "hazey-me" decided to share that story with him, because now there is a book that I pick up from time to time and it reminds me of that sweet moment in our history.  

And why am I telling you this?  Because I spoke with the pastor and got the okay to include a secular (non-religious) reading in our ceremony and I know just which one!

 

Here is the excerpt we want to use:

"What does that mean-- 'tame'?"

"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. It means to establish ties."

"'To establish ties'?"

"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world..."

***

"So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near--

"Ah," said the fox, "I shall cry."

"It is your own fault," said the little prince. "I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you..."

"Yes, that is so," said the fox.

"But now you are going to cry!" said the little prince.

"Yes, that is so," said the fox.

"Then it has done you no good at all!"

"It has done me good," said the fox, "because of the color of the wheat fields." And then he added:

"Go and look again at the roses. You will understand now that yours is unique in all the world. Then come back to say goodbye to me, and I will make you a present of a secret."

***

"And he went back to meet the fox."

"Goodbye," he said.

"Goodbye," said the fox. "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

"What is essential is invisible to the eye," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important."

"It is the time I have wasted for my rose--" said the little prince, so that he would be sure to remember.

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose..."

"I am responsible for my rose," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

The idea of "creating ties," and being "responsible" has meant a lot to me, and it's meant a lot to us.  He's responsible for me, I'm responsible for him, and we're responsible for the things that matter to us outside of ourselves.  And I hope that through our relationship, we continue to understand our responsibility to the world. 

I couldn't think of a better, more lighthearted way incorporate those sentiments into our ceremony.  




Are you incorporating any non-traditional readings in your ceremony?  

Goin' to the Chapel

After we changed our reception venue, our ceremony site became a no-brainer. When I told Mr.M that we had signed with Highlands the first thing he said was said "we can get married in the Old Cadet Chapel now. Call them up!"

 

Image via usma.edu 

 

Here's some background:

The Old Cadet Chapel sits on the cemetery at West Point.  And a little over two years ago, Mr. M and I went there to pay our respects to some of his classmates.  And when we were done, we walked into the chapel, hand in hand without saying a word.  Suddenly he turned to me and said "if we get married here [West Point], I want it to be in this chapel." And that was that, decision made.  I'll never forget it.  

To tell you the truth, I couldn't imagine a more perfect place for us to be married!  The chapel is intimate as it is beautiful.  And you can't deny it's connection to history. 




So this past weekend Mr. M's mom took me up to WP for a tour.  I brought along my mom, my Thia M, and my aunt who is visiting from Greece to see the chapel.  

Personal photo

I love the architecture--so did my aunt.  I believe her words were "It is very beautiful, it reminds me of Greece," or something to that effect.  Ok, so she might be partial. 

I would love to create something to hang on the door, but alas, we only get an hour in the church with no time for set up.  But we won't need any decor, look:

The interior is a lot like the church I grew up in, simple and charming.  And at the risk of sounding really weird--my favorite part of the sanctuary is that it smells like books.  Still with me?  Call me cray, but I've been fascinated by old books since I was a little girl.  I spent many happy Sundays in the library of my church, looking through the pages of books that I probably shouldn't have been allowed to touch without supervision (fruit punch fingers can be a little sticky).

Here's another shot from the balcony.  The aisle isn't as menacing from up there.  It looked way too long from the first interior pic.

 

The chapel is home to many plaques that commemorate the service of various heroes.  

How many plaques?

Many, many, plaques.  Let me zoom out to give you a better idea.

 

That's just one small section.

This plaque in particular caught my eye.  Any guesses as to who it once belonged to?

It reads "Major General [blank] Born 1740 [blank]," and it was once dedicated to Benedict Arnold.  I threw this picture in for the Mister, I knew he'd get a kick out of it.

It feels so good to have this major detail settled!   And we're both really happy to be married in this chapel.  

How did you choose your ceremony site?