I'm conducting the wedding ceremony of Deke and Denise.
He's a retired Norwegian sailing Captain known for his daily swims at the old Desoto Beach Hotel pool wearing "Speedos" when no one else in the state of Georgia ... or most of the south for that matter ... wears them.Denise is a brilliant artist, open minded, a few decades younger and has a slew of friends who made their way to Little Tybee ... most came by boat but more than a few paddled over on surf boards or in blow up floats with coolers.
Friends from the Savannah College of Art & Design are filming everything.
Waves lap the pristine shore ... seagulls circle overhead squawking in delight ... dolphins skim the surface smiling ... on a glorious, cloudless day.
"In the glory of this grand Cathedral built by none than God," I begin.
Deke burst into laughter and I pause.
In his funny Norwegian English he says, "I know what that means!" ... and he keeps talking.
"Well it is his wedding," I think to myself so I shut up and listen.
"When I'm out on the boat and it's just me ... you learn to appreciate God's grand design."
Everyone claps and Deke kisses Denise WAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE!
Standing there getting hot in the black robe, I wait until they're finished.
Deke nods his head to proceed ... so I continue and everything's fine until we get to the vows.
Deke's wrote a poem delivers it breathtaking, emotional passion.
I criy like a baby.
The beautiful Denise follows up with her own love letter, alternating her eyes between the paper and his eyes as passionate love hangs in the air.
I'm an emotional wreck before we get to "I Do's."
They "DO" and half the congregation immediately lights one up and a giant group hug occurs.
It was the first wedding I'd conducted on a beach though, all these years later, I can still feel the sand between my toes ... the heat of a black robe in bright sunshine ... the majesty of the grand Cathedral built by none other than God ... and the joyous love of Deke and Denise.
I count my blessings.
I don't conduct many wedding services but those I do ... all end up being quite spectacular somehow ... I don't know how ... except perhaps I sure respect love when I see it.
Those are the best weddings.
