This is a story of two people falling in love thousands of miles from home and travelling around the world to be together.

Then she stood beside me and the official ceremony quickly commenced. Though a civil ceremony the words being translated for me were beautiful. They summoned all the values we strive for in our lives, in our loves, in our marriages. After some discussion of the benefits of openness between us and support for one another there came the time for us to confirm our commitment to these values and more over to each other in our love. “Si!” I called out with my firm resolve carrying my Spanish to the far back of the hall and causing a chuckle of laughter to echo back in recognition of my limited use of the native language.

After the lengthy discourse on the happy union we were about to be joined in we then signed the official papers which made our dream a reality. Then we turned and kissed – the warmth of our love for each other melting the tensions of the occasion. The family Priest then stepped forward and with a great kindness and compassion spoke lovingly to us and then with a white carnation in his hand blessed our two rings. I took Claudia’s inscribed ring and placed in on finger declaring myself as hers. She then took my ring and slipped it onto my finger….but further down it refused to slip! Despite previously lubricating my knuckle it was too great an impediment for the ring. She pushed and tugged and then let go in sea of mirth which swept like a rip-tide back down the hall. Any remaining tension was now truly dissolved. As the Priest continued she gave a great tug and the ring slipped quietly into it’s final home…and there it will stay.

Soon the Priest was done and the embracing began. Everyone was embracing, the family, the Priest, the officials, and of course the ‘loving couple’. Now to the triumphal wedding march we stepped out back though the hall lined with cheering faces and waving hands. The joy and happiness rang though the air.

We stepped out into the main central room of this large old Italian house in the beautiful Las Condes area of Santiago. The Chilean family and friends of Claudia came spilling out of the ceremonies hall, laughing and shouting like children leaving school. We were engulfed with kisses and hugs as all 250 guests imparted their happiness.