Nuptials, Tales of...

The Nuptials of Thetis and Peleus - Hendrik de Clerck
(Source)

Juvat's tale of the pending nuptials of his daughter reminded me of a story or two. Concerning nuptials that is, mine own and that of The WSO's. Her wedding being the much more interesting tale. But hey, how about Achilles' parents, Thetis and Peleus? Let's look at their wedding first.

Come on, you don't know who Achilles is? We'll wait while you go look it up...

Yes, that Achilles. On second thought, as to the nuptials of Thetis and Peleus, I read a better account than I could write, there's a link to that at the bottom. Now, now, wait for it...

Oh yes, congratulations to Juvat's MBD and her intended. Let's all hope that Juvat manages to stay out of the poor house. Those nuptials, I've heard, can be rather expensive.

Anyhoo, the wedding of Your Humble Scribe and The Missus Herself was very much an affair involving travel to Seoul, lots of paperwork in multiple offices, finally with our Korean translator/facilitator/guide announcing, "Congratulations, you're married."

Not sure why I was expecting more from a purely civil thing, wasn't even a ceremony. At least not that I can recall. And yes, I was sober. As was she. (There are times when folks wonder how an old hoot owl like myself wound up with the lady who consented to be my bride. While it isn't exactly a Beauty and the Beast situation, it's close. Damned close. You there in the back, stop laughing, I can see you.)

Now where was I?

Oh yeah, my own "wedding" was rather mundane and pretty much a "sign here, initial there, and sign here again..." sort of thing. All paper, no romance. Do I regret doing it that way? Kind of. But we did save a butt ton of money by not having a more formal wedding. (As opposed to the "just barely a wedding but hey, we're actually legally wed so we've got that going for us" kind of thing.)

However, The WSO's marriage to Big Time was a "pretty big deal." At least I thought so. For it isn't every day that one "gives away" a daughter. Which I did, walking her down the "aisle" to give her in marriage to, of all things, a fighter pilot. Dear Lord, what was I thinking?

Just kidding, Big Time is a good stick and a nice fellow. My grandchildren think the world of him, as well they might, half of said grandchildren being his progeny.

Did I mention that Big Time's skipper and a number of other Knighthawks (VFA-136) were at the wedding? Have I ever mentioned his skipper's call sign? No?

So, skipper's given name is Damien. Remember a movie a while back, with a kid named Damien? No? Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner? Not ringing any bells?

Have you guessed his call sign yet?

Well, I can safely say that "Satan" was at The WSO's wedding. Not the actual Anti-Christ mind you, just an F/A-18E pilot with the call sign, "Satan."

Just to note, The WSO's wedding went far smoother than that movie clip. Even "Satan" and his Knighthawks behaved.

That opening painting? Well, the wedding was nothing like that, everybody was wearing clothes. In true fighter pilot fashion, the wedding was held outdoors, at a golf course. I do believe that Big Time was warned that any mention of "getting in a round of golf" would be looked upon with great disfavor. Not by me mind you, I think his Mom warned him about that. No doubt The WSO might have frowned upon that as well.

As to the wedding of Achilles' parents? You can read a synopsis of that here. Now his mom, being some sort of sea-goddess, I figure Achilles should have opted for a career in the Navy. Avoid that whole arrow through the heel thing maybe. Yes, Achilles would've made a fine Navy man...

Or not.