Yesterday was amazing. In the middle
of the zombie apocalypse, the survivors barricaded within the Reason’s grocery
store in Langley, Oklahoma bore witness to the union of Brad Chambers and
Kasondra Taylor. They were married by Fred Cox who we deemed to be the highest
ranking member within our group. We vested power in him to be an ordained
minister. Kinda doubting that would hold up in a court of law but given how
most of the Supreme Court justices and officials for the state of Oklahoma are
probably feasting on human flesh right now, sensible reason and normalcy is not
really in large supply these days.
You know, it was the least
professionally decorated. It was the least rehearsed. We did our best with what
music we had available. Decorations consisted of origami flowers made from
paper napkins. And yet, this event thrown together in a matter of hours was one
of the more romantic things I have seen.
The logical side of my brain will tell
you that the whole thing was pointless. Fred is not a minister. The state of
Oklahoma (if that even still exists) certainly is not going to recognize this
as legal. But all that kind of falls to the wayside in times like this doesn’t
it?
I have known people that are legally
married that could not have been less in love and were still bound together
only by that legal document. But what Brad and Kasondra have is real. It is a
marriage of spirit and soul that is far beyond anything that a legal document
could ever state.
Does it matter that they were married
in the center aisle of the store? Hey, as my dad used to say, “You dance with
the one that brung ya.” This is what we had available so this is what we work
with.
I am sure not every bride wants to
walk down the aisle while the wedding march plays from the crappy speakers of a
laptop computer. But we all did get a good laugh when the YouTube video buffered
right in the middle of Kasondra’s walk. She handled it like a champ. She just
stopped in mid stride, waited for the music to start back and then continued
her walk down the aisle. Naturally, this drew a big laugh from the
“congregation” – which I think is what you need.
Okay, sure if you are Prince William
and Kate Middleton, the weddings should maybe be solemn and dignified. And I am
not saying you need to throw all decorum out the window and go all Honey Boo
Boo either. But if you are getting married in the center aisle of a grocery
store while the risen dead and milling around outside your door, I think a
little laughter is in order.
Kim was beaming. Janet, the mother of
the groom, couldn’t stop crying. We all ate from some of the private reserves,
you know, the good stuff. We even popped a few bottles of Champaign that we
looted from the liquor store next door. We were holding them back for New
Year’s Eve but we felt this was a completely appropriate time to dip into the
stash.
I questioned the logistics of Brad’s
plan but I am very happy to say that I was wrong. The level of morale within
the group was fantastic. People danced and laughed and shared in a wonderful
time. We are all in a good place.
I hope that if you are reading this,
you are too…
