I went to a wedding today.
Normally, this wouldn't be earth-shaking news (well, I hadn't been to a wedding in something like over 10 years, which may say something about my social habits or lack thereof, but whatever). But it's a sweet story.
Before I start, I should add that my office has been hosting the phone banks for the Mayor's Office of Emergency Services. This has not been the control center, just where the phone banks are. The net result is that the main floor of the station has volunteers all over the place, answering phones, trying to track the missing, the wounded, the lost, and the found.
Paul and Monique (I don't know what their last names are) were going to hold their wedding on Friday, September 14, 2001 (i.e. today). Then the towers came tumbling down, and the world changed. They abandoned their wedding plans and signed up as volunteers, putting the good of the city ahead of their own plans.
Today, at around 3:30, or so, in the main hallway, surrounded by fellow volunteers and Channel 13 employees, Paul and Monique were married in a brief ceremony. The bride wore a white veil, an orange shirt, and gray pants (I think). Cheers broke out when the judge said, "You may kiss the bride."
It was really sweet and surprisingly moving, that amidst the chaos, the shock, and the general grim atmosphere, that two people were joined, that they took the steps for a (hopefully) long and happy life together.
It was a real feel-good moment.
The huge cake that the Cupcake Cafe was able to whip together certainly didn't hurt.
. . .
You really should look at this:Cynthia Malaran's WTC: Watching The Changes.