birthdays and anniversaries and two sunny days

[jay]

Well... a pretty good weekend, a nice mix of home-life and socialness. A good, reconnecting date with tenacious_snail Friday, and I was introduced to Barney's. By a vegetarian, ironically.

Sleeping in late was a luxury Saturday -- 3am to 10am -- because there was neither skating or Little League. Pat went to the church to arrange flowers with frankenboob. I went gift-shopping and picked up Pat's birthday cake. That afternoon, we took the kids over to deedeebythebay and coyote3502's wedding renewal ceremony and reception. They were *so* happy! It was lovely to watch them together, as well as the reinforcing effects on other SO-pairings in the vicinity.

The pagan ceremony itself seemed kind of weird and a bit like they were making it up as they went along... and there were these directional wind-guardians invoked. I kept wondering why the southern one controlled heat and fire... after all, if we'd been in Australia, south would be the *colder* direction... or if the eastern one lived in, say, Reno... nevertheless, whatever works faith-wise for the others there. My role was to smile and be polite... although I nearly lost it giggling once, early on when I inadvertently stepped backward on to the tail of an orange cat, who then broke the solemnity and yowled loudly right as Darla was singing to Mark. Ulp. Then we had brake problems with the van, on the way home.

Saturday night, I shifted into birthday-mode for Pat... took her out for dinner and to see "The Parrots of Telegraph Hill", a sweet documentary. After church today (Pat read), the five of us all had brunch at Hobee's, then Pat napped while I finished shopping, bought ice cream and candles and cleaned the house in preparation. Tonight she ordered her favorite dinner (thin-crust pizza with pancetta), we opened a 1999 Obester sangiovese, and sang "happy birthday" with lots of candles on the cake ;-). She liked the Rocky and Bullwinkle DVD box sets...

Tomorrow, back to work after dropping off the van to be serviced and a stop at Fry's for wireless access-point gear for sarahh. Then to DC for air traffic middleware, then to NYC to drill in frozen regolith simulant , then back home Friday.

Comments

[deedeebythebay.livejournal.com]

The pagan ceremony itself seemed kind of weird and a bit like they were making it up as they went along...

Nope, the whole thing was written out beforehand....we just weren't as formal with it as if it had been a big church service. And we didn't spend lots of time planning it with tenacious_snail beforehand so there was a bit of "flying by the seat of our pants.

As to the ceremony/ritual itself.....these are quite a few centuries old, very traditional....there were a few innovations added, but that happens even with "Christian" weddings.

and there were these directional wind-guardians invoked. I kept wondering why the southern one controlled heat and fire... after all, if we'd been in Australia, south would be the *colder* direction... or if the eastern one lived in, say, Reno... nevertheless, whatever works faith-wise for the others there.

Not wind guardians, simply spirits of each direction. If memory serves correctly, they are based mostly on Western European traditions so the directions, for them, make sense. I do have a teacher who reminds me that, even as other religions, including Christianity, has altered things to fit their culture and geographic location, we can do the same. So that if I lived in Australia or some other locations, I might very well do so.

My role was to smile and be polite...

No, your role was to enjoy yourself and share in our joy!

[coyote3502.livejournal.com]

Having spent some time singing at Trinity Cathedral (Portland) and directing choir for a small Episcopal congregation in the Southwest (they still liked to use the 1929 BCP and the 1940 Hymnal), I would say that most of the pagans I know would look at the liturgy and the actions in the Eucharist and think them quite odd, as well. Pagans don't seem to have the same "a place for everything and everything in it's place" approach to worship.

Generally speaking, when in one place, I find myself pining for the other. I loved the unbridaled joy of Saturday, but I also love the pomp and liturgy of a really good liturgical church.

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

*kiss*

Glad you liked Barney's.

Also glad to have seen you at the renewal of vows. Its one of those "celebrating love" events that makes me feel all smooshy about love in general and about my sweeties. There is a photo that does a really good job of capturing me looking at you (Geri's LJ?)

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

I loved the loving look in your eyes there, and was glad I'd caught it on film!

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Both for loving it and for catching it. Yay!