Sing-a-Long Sound of Music

The Sound of Music always, always makes me cry. It always has. But, one of the remarkable testaments to the true power of the film is this: I never cry at the same moment twice.

When I was very small, I cried when Mr. Von Trapp sings Edelweiss. It was a lullaby my mother sang to me. It always chokes me up to see a man crying.

When I was a teenager, I cried with Rolph abandons Liesel and reports her family to the Nazis. There isn't much more terrifying to a teenager than true love gone so horribly, horribly wrong.

A few years ago, I cried when the Mother Superior sings Climb Every Mountain. "Maria, the love between a man and woman is holy, too," she reassures Maria. I love that moment. What a powerful testament, even in the midst of a convent, how precious married love can be.

But last night, for the first time, I cried at the wedding scene. All out cried. I cried when the nuns walked Maria into the church, passing her off to her new step-daughter. I cried when Captain Von Trapp patiently waited at the altar for Maria to walk down the isle. I cried at Maria with her gorgeous dress, all of those well-wishers watching. And I cried when they both knelt in front of the bishop, with Liesel as a witness, to join each other in marriage.

Adam once laughed me for how hard he expects me to cry at our wedding. At the time, I wrote him off. But I think he may be right. Weddings are so beautiful, so meaningful... even when they're someone elses. I don't quite now how I'll respond to my own.

An Awesome Cake

No profound thoughts today... just an awesome wedding cake that sent my delightfully nerdy fiance drooling.

Notice the intricate detail, including the icing roller in the back. Also the Lego men in bakers' hats.

Too bad Adam insisted we couldn't have a sugarpaste cake. We had to settle for something a bit more sane... and significantly more appropriate for soon-to-be-married adults.

The photo comes from Cake Wrecks, which may be the best useless blog of all time.

Experiences I Wish I Could Have Shared with Adam #2

My mother raised me to find time to volunteer, no matter how busy I am. The objective was clearly to help people, but my most recent volunteer activity is more fun for me than anything else. Who wouldn't want to spend a Saturday afternoon helping English children try on chain-mail or make paper samurai helmets? That's just how fun it is to be an Oxford University Museums volunteer.

Today I did something new... I helped kids dissect pigs' eyeballs. As squeamish as I know Adam can occasionally be about his eyes, I would have loved sharing the fun I had today with him. Adam loves helping people learn things! And these children were really, truly engaged in learning about the eye. Volunteering is something I really look forward to sharing with Adam!

If you're in the Oxford area, I strongly recommend volunteering with OUM. You can find out more about it here.

An Apology

I've noticed that my last few posts have been a little depressing. I know there aren't many people reading right now, but I feel that I ought to apologize to anyone who is.

It has occurred to me that one way to brighten things up--and by things I may actually just mean my day--is to encouraged "Erec" to join me in posting. How about it, Adam? Interested in blogging about the experiences of getting married from a male perspective? I promise to make the website less pink.

Similarly, Enide's mom is also welcomed to join the flock. This is a growing experience for all of us!

If that doesn't work, at least a picture of Adam jousting in a cardboard box ought to topically lighten things up!