
The western sky needs to chill. We got married.
We forged ahead, directly into the heart of the incoming storm, with Iowa Scribe at the helm of the always-reliable four-door maroon Oldsmobuick. Four of us, including Mrs. Iowa Scribe To-Be and a faithful and honorable wedding party of two, followed by a staff of certified ordained clergy.
The incoming storm, brewing like your Uncle Billy's micro-beer in the sky, was not going to stop us from tying the proverbial knot.
The day had begun sunny and clear, rain-free enough that Mrs. Iowa Scribe To-Be had actually gotten up early and mowed the lawn before it became time to forge west. Before our eyes as we traveled, the buttery brightness of the day began to dissolve.
We were looking for what I am certain is the smallest chapel in the world, besides 20 or 30 other chapels. It's actually the Little Flock Chapel, a part of the Little Flock Chapel Roadside Rest Area on highway 2 just west of Centerville. We needed to settle, once and for all, exactly where the chapel is. Everyone has passed it at one time or another, but none seem to know precisely where.
"It is located along highway 2," everyone will say.
"Where, exactly?" we will ask.
And no one knows where, exactly.
And that is exactly where we found it.
Biblical digression: Luke 12-32; "Fear not, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
We feared not. Our little flock reached our destination just seconds before the torrential rains began to pelt an already oft-pelted world. We set things up in the smallest chapel in the world (besides 20 or 30 or maybe 40 or so other chapels) and prepared for the ceremony.
Iowa Scribe and Mrs. Iowa Scribe To-Be had decided to make a statement with our attire. Iowa Scribe To-Be's wedding gown was an Iowa State Cyclones shirt, while Iowa Scribe wore an Iowa Hawkeyes shirt. The point: Love conquers all! Through our love, we have been able to raise the level of our discourse to the point where we can float over the canyon of dissent forged by our college athletic loyalties. It was even suggested that perhaps Iowa Scribe To-Be should wear the Hawkeye shirt while Iowa Scribe would sport the Cyclone gear. Of course, that did NOT happen, as it would have been just TOO crazy. Love is a wonderful, amazing thing that can bridge our differences, but don't push it, Babe.
The differences in our backgrounds were also obvious beyond the college attire, as Iowa Scribe To-Be is of Dutch/Swedish background while Iowa Scribe, as you all are well aware, was born in Kenya to a single mother and had to fake his birth certificate in order to claim US citizenship. Again, love conquers all.
The wedding party witnesses, not wanting to take sides, got into the spirit of the diversity. Our female witness donned a stunning blend of Iowa and Iowa State attire, and the two mixed together on her in much the same way that water and oil won't. Our male witness stayed out of the athletic fan game altogether and instead dressed as though he was going spear-fishing for Summer Gar on the southernmost point of Nova Scotia. Which was perfect.
As a favor to me, our beloved ordained minister began the service with the lines of The Impressive Clergyman in the movie "The Princess Bride." He remained deadpan as he spoke the words, "Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder toooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangement, that dweam wifin a dweam ..."
Then after a laugh, he got down to the serious business of matrimony, and as the thunder rolled overhead, we got ourselves good and legally married.
No messes, no fusses, no worries about caterers or tailors or disc jockeys or place settings or whether or not Cousin Joe is going to interrupt the Best Man's speech by vomiting into the punch.
Just me looking into her eyes, and her looking into mine.
Declaring faith and love for each other, as long as we both shall live.
And it's a good thing. And if the sky is angry about it, then the sky must chill.
Because I love her, and she loves me. And we could see it in each other's eyes.
And that is an amazing, wonderful thing.
We got married today. In a tiny chapel with our tiny flock and one God as our witnesses, we got married.
Yeah, we did.