Carpe Via

Fields of Gold

You’ll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You’ll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in fields of gold
So she took her love for to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold

Will you stay with me, will you be my love
Among the fields of barley?
We’ll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in fields of gold
See the west wind move like a lover so
Upon the fields of barley
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold

I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I’ve broken
But I swear in the days still left
We’ll walk in fields of gold
We’ll walk in fields of gold

Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
Among the fields of gold
You’ll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold

Apache Prayer

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will shelter each other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness for you;
Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place, to enter into the days of your togetherness,
And may your days be good, and long together.

Katie Cordes’ Reading

The writer Arundhati Roy said earlier this year:

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”

In this same year there are two people who on their own have contributed to that world. A quiet breathing world, which I’m sure will be humbled by the power of these two people now together, offering up a love to take forward in their own wonderful unique way into another year and another, and another. Can there be no greater gift in a partner and companion? They share a generous love, which the Oregon stars gaze down on now. I know those stars will be twinkling with jealousy, as is the Sydney moon — she is bright with envy. Charles and Emily dare to live a life where hearts beat faster. They dare to journey to places afar, dare to stop still and listen, dare to ask questions of the unknown, -they dare to learn, they dare to dream. This they have found in each other -the insatiable wonders mix that is curiousity, joy and love. They will be caught in rains together, fall asleep under trees together.

But most importantly… maybe, just maybe, they will witness a new world together.

The French poet Rene Char said, “If you can dwell in one moment, you will discover eternity.” So I offer the same to Charles and Emily who are joined together under this Oregon sky — live deeply in this moment, on teh 16th of August 2003, and you too may discover eternity.

There is one thing I do know for certain –with Charles and Emily’s union, for the friends & family here and faraway –it is already a better world.

Song of the Open Road–Walt Whitman

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

So! The road is before us!
It is safe – I have tried it – my own feet have tried it well –
be not detain’d!
Let the paper remain on the desk unwritten, and the book
on the shelf unopen’d!
Let the tools remain in the workshop! let the money remain unearn’d!
Let the school stand! mind not the cry of the teacher!
Let the preacher preach in his pulpit! let the lawyer plead
in the court, and the judge expound the law.

Fellow traveler, I give you my hand!
I give you my love more precious than money,
I give you myself before preaching or law;
Will you give me yourself? will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?

Charles’ Vows

I will remember to stop and smell the flowers

I will keep learning

I will notice things. I will look and be aware of events out side my head

I will continue to respect you and be honest with you

I will try to be polite to other people – even when they’re idiots

I will not rely on you for my happiness

I will be monogamous

I will be honourable in my dealings with everyone

I will not take myself too seriously

I will have an independent life

I will not be a lump

I will appreciate the things I like about you, and not try to change the things I don’t

I will learn from you

I will travel with you

Emily’s Vows

I will give you space

I will let love ebb and flow as it will

I will do my best to see you as you are instead of how I would like you to be

I will you leave you alone when you are sick, as you prefer

I will ask instead of tell

I will work towards having the strength to truely love you

I will support your rugby habit

I will live in the moment

I will be monogamous

I will have an independent life

I will learn from you

I will travel with you

How can I even begin to describe the ceremony from my point of view? It was amazing and a blur. I have a few very clear moments though: talking to Charles on the walkie talkies to coordinate the entry (“Where are you? Everyone is waiting”), Tammy and I racing up the road and running past the caterers towards Charles (who had no idea I was changing dresses), a screeching halt and mad scramble to fetch the GORGEOUS bouquet (made by Aunt Arlene), and then walking towards almost everyone I know and love all gathered together in one place, Shalen’s acoustic guitar, a kiss from Mom at the end of the isle.

The altar, by the way, was created by Bev McKay –an explosion of flowers on two ladders (I had imagined a few stems randomly stapled to the steps). Most of them were from her garden, but they also included gorgeous dahlias from Cynthia Brogan, and the rest from Rasmussen’s Farms.

Our officiant, Jeffre Jackson of the Universal Life Church, welcomed us all to the ceremony. And didn’t he look handsome in his suit? Poor guy didn’t get a full rehearsal until just an hour before.

After the welcome we had a moment of silence –a chance to hear the wind in the trees and to take in the beauty of the orchard. (I tried to look out at everyone but it was too much to take it all in at once–I could only look at one person at a time).

Then, breaking the silence, Casey and Shalen Parker began to perform Fields of Gold. I imagine the neighbors up the valley stopping mid-sentence, putting down their potato peelers and drifting to the windows to catch the song in the air.

For the first reading, we asked my cousin Lena to choose a piece that was special to her. Anything at all. She read the Apache Prayer, which I had read for she and Kyle at their wedding 2 years earlier…

Charles’ friend, Katie Cordes, sent an original piece to be read by Tim Baynes. She is an artist, photographer, writer and as you can see, poet. Although she was unable to leave Sydney, she was very much there.

For the final reading we asked Amanda Luell, to read a poem that we love: Walt Whitman’s Song of the Open Road. We had even considered using the final verse for our vows.

Jeffre said a few words about the meaning of our rings (which I would like to add here soon).

Charles read his vows.

I read my vows.

Rashmi (my beautiful host sister from India) gave a blessing from her family in Hindi -it involved placing rice in our hands and throwing it over our shoulders.

We then returned to the front where Jeffre pronounced us married, saying “the next action you take will be as husband and wife.”

We kissed.

Beethoven’s 9th began to boom throughout the orchard, trumpets sounded, thunder rolled in the blue summer sky and Charles and walked out amongst the cheers, the cameras, and the little tiny bubbles.

After a few hundred speeches, we danced into the night.

More pictures here

The day started with a meander up the gorge and into an orchard full of games. There was extensive mingling with the clown and enjoying of hats.

More pictures here.

Three families.

Two hours.

No politics.

: )