bear

( saturday, in which there is over seven hours of driving, three dozen bottles of beer acquired, and damn good pizza )

( sunday, in which there is even more driving, a damn good breakfast, and a true coupling. )

wedding piccies. i took so many pictures of the ceremony that i ran out of battery by the time the reception rolled around. the ceremony itself was so perfectly emandben, combining jewish and episcopalian heritage with unitarian beliefs and scholarly footnotes. (two american religions scholars getting married. hee.) a minister and a rabbi; episcopalian vows and a ketubah; the updating of the kiddushin to reflect true partnering (instead of the bride circling the groom seven times, em circled ben three times, then ben circled em three times, and then they both circled each other one last time to make the proper seven). stomping on the glass together. and through it all, they glowed. ne'er a doubt, fully aware of the commitment they were making and joyously solemn throughout. god made the world in six days, rested for one, and ever since then, has been yentl - making matches. and though i admit i've become slightly more worldly and jaded over the years about finding one's soulmate and finding the one, watching ben and emily, it's easy to see - they've found their beshert. may i be that lucky!



also, i would so go to services with that rabbi. heck, i might still be a catholic today had the good monsignors been as engaging as the rabbi. *ggl* very sensible and down-to-earth, liberal, cheerful, hearty. LOVED the rabbi. perfect complement to the services. here, have a look:



( the last of the whirlwind )

so, highlights:
- harmonizing to noghri's a cappella mix through connecticut
- devouring seven slices of pizza for lunch at kinchley's
- boozing it up in a random hotel room in suburban new jersey
- chocolate egg cream!
- winning both apples to apples and poker
- delicious breakfast
- doing memerath's hair
- wonderful, personal wedding ceremony
- seeing faraway friends, even if only for mere moments
- the night-drive peace after the craziness of the previous 36 hours