LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMPOut: We Did, We Did. |
by Fay Jacobs |
It must have happened, I read it in the Washington Post. There it was, right smack in the middle of the Weddings page in the August 10 edition, photo and all.
Vancouver Nuptials for Bonnie Quesenberry and Fay JacobsFay Jacobs and Bonnie Quesenberry were married August 22nd in a civil ceremony at Le Soleil Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia. Marriage Commissioner Karen Ell officiated. Ms. Jacobs, a graduate of American University , Washington, D.C., is executive director for Rehoboth Beach Main Street, a non-profit organization in Rehoboth Beach, DE. From 1982 to 1999, she worked as director of communications for Montgomery Village Foundation. Her parents are Mort Rubenstein and the late Shirley Rubenstein. Her father and stepmother, Joan Windell Rubenstein reside in Somers, NY. Ms. Quesenberry, a Baltimore native, owned and operated Quesenberry Dental Lab in the area for more than 20 years, where she was affiliated with Johns Hopkins Hospital among other clients. In 1999, she relocated the lab to Delaware. She is also an accomplished designer of hand-made gold jewelry. Her parents are Natalie and Ray Quesenberry of Frederick, MD, formerly of Baltimore. The couple has been together for 21 years. Whew! It's been a mighty long engagement. And, I might add, as soon as we were pronounced wife and wife, Canada did not fall into the sea. Getting the announcement in the Post was actually more difficult than the wedding arrangements. At first they wanted to publish it under "Celebrations" since they called it a civil union. "Oh no," I said, "we have a marriage license from Canada." "Okay then," said the clerk, "fax it to me and we'll run it with weddings!" As for the wedding itself, the short version of this tale is that our quartet, Fay and Bonnie and Bob and Larry, arrived in Vancouver, BC on the evening of August 21. Awaiting us were two brides bouquets and two groom's boutonnires sent to our hotel by the ever-thoughtful adopted son-the-actor of Fay and Bonnie. We all had jitters. On Friday morning at 8 we walked a few blocks to the insurance office where marriage licenses are bestowed. "Oh, yes, come right back here," said the clerk, whereupon the boys sat at one desk and the girls another. "Oh, I see," said the clerk, without a hint of judgment. In fact, she apologized as she crossed out the word groom on our application and hand-wrote a second "bride." She added, "our new paperwork hasn't come in yet." With shaky signatures, we signed on the dotted lines, paid our license fee and, clutching our marriage licenses (!), walked back to the hotel. "We're getting married at 10 a.m., is it possible to use this back lobby of the hotel for the ceremony?" we asked the cute, blond, earring-wearing boy-toy concierge. He loved the idea, and told us he'd try to keep people from loitering and leaving their luggage there. We called Marriage Commissioner Karen Ell and asked her to meet us in the lobby at 10. "My husband will join me, to take pictures if you'd like," she said. We liked. They arrived, all smiles, and following a flurry of signatures, Bob and Larry indicated that Bonnie and I should go first. At this point I have to say that my memory gets a little foggy. All I know is that instead of the sterile civil ceremony I expected, it was an incredibly sweet and personal few minutes. We stood looking at each other, glancing at our stalwart witnesses, repeating after Karen, smiling, fidgeting with the rings, and soaking up every minute of the event. I certainly remember savoring the words as I repeated after the Marriage Commissioner "I solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, Fay may not be joined in matrimony to Bonnie." Emphasis on lawful. The brides kissed and made way for the second part of this daily double, as Bob and Larry were lawfully wed. Near the end of their ceremonya ceremony different from, and equally lovely as oursa tear ran down Robert's cheek, followed by Larry misting up; then Bonnie went, I followed and one of the best photos by Bob the Commissioner's husband shows us all falling apart. Even Karen the Commissioner started to sniffle. The formalities concluded, several heterosexual couples in the lobby came up to congratulate us all, and Bonnie and I tossed our bouquets to two little girls who were in the lobby with their parents. Gee, I wonder if they will grow up to marry lesbians? We did notice that the handsome young bellhop had stopped work to watch the ceremony and he was grinning from ear to ear as he went back to work. We ended the morning with a champagne brunch at a lovely restaurant along English Bay in Vancouver, where our friendly concierge had made the reservations and sent us congratulatory canaps. It was a splendid and surprisingly lovely affairand our only regret is that our friends and family could not have been there to share it with us. I know this column doesn't include my usual complement of whining and snarling, and I apologize for the mush. But we're Sadie, Sadie Married Ladies and we can't stop smiling. Fay Jacobs may be reached at mvnoozy@aol.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 13, No.13, September 19, 2003 |