Monday, October 03, 2005
A New Orleans-Style "Monsoon Wedding"
by Andrea Garaudy Martinez
Thursday, August 25, 2005
I use my half-day at work to get my hair done, put on some make-up, and drive
my sister with me to Longue Vue Gardens for my bridal portraits. The place is absolutely beautiful, the dress is a little HOT, but I completely trust my photographer. My shiny nose is repeatedly powdered by my matron of honor and my tango instructor, Valorie. I can still smell the lavender she placed in my gorgeous bouquet of roses!
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Thinking we may have to evacuate for a few days, I get our marriage license
from Orleans parish. Then spend the night watching the news.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Accepting the fact that the Category 5 Hurricane Katrina will likely be a direct hit on New Orleans, we pack clothes for a few days and some pictures and head to Shreveport (much thanks to Bridgette and Randy for securing a room). No room left in the car for a wedding dress, I kept it in an upstairs closet covered in plastic.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Katrina hits. Nothing we could do but sit in the hotel room, watch a storm that
occupies much of the Gulf head straight for my home, and worry about my dad Joe (who decided to wait out the storm at my house in Metairie). We were able to contact him just after the eye passed over poor St. Bernard and Waveland. Later on that evening nothing.
We spend the next several days watching the news, and the horror that followed
after the levees broke.
We also began to realize there is no wedding.
We accessed the internet at the local library and cancelled our honeymoon
reservations.
Thursday, September 1, 2005
We leave our friends in Shreveport to join family in Bedford, Texas.
Apparently, the Nicolls had taken over the Marriott Suites (thanks to Shelly for helping get that room). We had a kitchen, and 2 queen beds. We had 4 adults and 2 small children (and their toys) in one room, but something felt missing there was no Joe.
Everyone in Texas was so nice. We even got into a Cowboys game for free. But,
when you got back to the hotel, you still felt compelled to go right back to CNN.
Friday, September 2, 2005
Late in the evening, my cell phone belts out a familiar ring tone and I shout It's Joe! We gave him our location and gave him a BIG hug around 2am when he arrived. His son (in Virginia) had been worried sick, especially seeing nothing but the worst on the national news. He could now let out a big sigh of relief.
Sunday, September 4, 2005
Just as soon as we were all reunited the guys returned to Jefferson Parish to
assess the damage.
We were VERY lucky. Some outside damage, but our houses were still livable (and my wedding dress was ok). Chris stayed to work with the JPFD, the number of fires was unbelievable. Flood waters had to be pumped to put the fires out. We all worried about him, but understood what he had to do.
Over the next 2 weeks, we visited with family, went to several malls just to get out of the hotel, Joe rented a Harley, we took the kids to the aquarium (the bunnies were the favorite), and Alfonso and I found a place in Dallas to tango! Logan found he enjoyed sleeping in Tio and N Anie s bed.
We didn t mind, because every morning we'd awake to butterfly kiss . Every kid in the hotel eventually had a croupy cough at some point. Brody (now 15 months) developed a few new words! And, despite not being able to get him into school, Logan said his first full sentence! ( May I have cracker, please? )
We also went to Ft. Worth to get marriage license number 2, in Tarrant County.
Just in case Chris (our best man) got relieved from duty for a few days and could come back. (well, we were trying to maintain a positive outlook )
I couldn t find anywhere locally that needed a pediatrician. So, to keep busy, I began crocheting slippers for me and my sister. (note: a 15-month old WILL take yarn and run away with it while you re using it, despite the real toys surrounding him)
Saturday, September 10, 2005
We already had our cry back in Shreveport, so we were ok. Well, that s what I thought would happen. As the day went by, we thought the photographer would be arriving now the limos would be there by now we d be in the church now we d be married by now what can I say, the tears flowed.
But, let s face it, at least we were together. At least we had a home. At least we were alive!
Monday, September 19, 2005
We pack up and head to Natchitoches. We spend the night in one more hotel.
Things are looking up.
My sister will see her husband after more than 2 weeks apart. The Saints (now without a Superdome) lose to the Giants. At least it s some return to normalcy. And, Alfonso gets a call from Fr. Ian!
He stayed at St. Anthony through the storm, and eventually ended up in Hammond.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Home at last! Although, it just didn t look like my neighborhood driving home.
Roofs and building facades torn away, billboards bent in half, huge trees completely uprooted. We were so lucky.
Alfonso keeps taking his ring out the box to look at it, anxious to finally wear it!
A few more phone calls from Fr. Ian. He found a nice small church in Tickfaw, Louisiana. The name Our Lady of Pompeii. No joke. Named after a city that got completely demolished by a natural disaster. It was perfect!
Monday, September 26, 2005
A chance at a wedding an expired Louisiana marriage license. We head to Covington to get marriage license number 3 in St. Tammany parish. They were very supportive. At lunch, we get a call from Fr. Ian who was in the emergency room. Luckily, it was just a sprain!
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Joe has settled most of his things in his new room upstairs. And Alfonso's parents arrive and settle into their new room upstairs. It s gonna be a full house. But it s gonna be a house filled with family. (and, again, we re lucky to have a house).
We were also lucky to have some wedding presents which we used to make our wedding cake (thanks to Rie and Na-nan, and Barry and Deidre).
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
The bride and groom (now both unemployed), their parents, the best man and the matron of honor head out to Tickfaw. We meet up with Fr. Ian at Our Lady of Pompeii ready to get married. Our family members participated in the readings (which we had just picked out before the storm ). And Fr. Ian delivered the perfect Homily. It began with A couple in love, a friar, and a secluded church sounds like something out of Romeo and Juliet . It ended with a quote from the end of the first reading, "deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away."
After the ceremony, we all enjoyed white chocolate Bundt cake with a delicious almond glaze!
Alfonso and I completed the celebration at home, over dinner, in the company of our family and Fr. Ian. Topped off with a toast by the father-of-the-bride.
It was perfect.
(of course, big party in New Orleans to follow next year)
September 30, 2005
Thursday, August 25, 2005
I use my half-day at work to get my hair done, put on some make-up, and drive
my sister with me to Longue Vue Gardens for my bridal portraits. The place is absolutely beautiful, the dress is a little HOT, but I completely trust my photographer. My shiny nose is repeatedly powdered by my matron of honor and my tango instructor, Valorie. I can still smell the lavender she placed in my gorgeous bouquet of roses!
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Thinking we may have to evacuate for a few days, I get our marriage license
from Orleans parish. Then spend the night watching the news.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Accepting the fact that the Category 5 Hurricane Katrina will likely be a direct hit on New Orleans, we pack clothes for a few days and some pictures and head to Shreveport (much thanks to Bridgette and Randy for securing a room). No room left in the car for a wedding dress, I kept it in an upstairs closet covered in plastic.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Katrina hits. Nothing we could do but sit in the hotel room, watch a storm that
occupies much of the Gulf head straight for my home, and worry about my dad Joe (who decided to wait out the storm at my house in Metairie). We were able to contact him just after the eye passed over poor St. Bernard and Waveland. Later on that evening nothing.
We spend the next several days watching the news, and the horror that followed
after the levees broke.
We also began to realize there is no wedding.
We accessed the internet at the local library and cancelled our honeymoon
reservations.
Thursday, September 1, 2005
We leave our friends in Shreveport to join family in Bedford, Texas.
Apparently, the Nicolls had taken over the Marriott Suites (thanks to Shelly for helping get that room). We had a kitchen, and 2 queen beds. We had 4 adults and 2 small children (and their toys) in one room, but something felt missing there was no Joe.
Everyone in Texas was so nice. We even got into a Cowboys game for free. But,
when you got back to the hotel, you still felt compelled to go right back to CNN.
Friday, September 2, 2005
Late in the evening, my cell phone belts out a familiar ring tone and I shout It's Joe! We gave him our location and gave him a BIG hug around 2am when he arrived. His son (in Virginia) had been worried sick, especially seeing nothing but the worst on the national news. He could now let out a big sigh of relief.
Sunday, September 4, 2005
Just as soon as we were all reunited the guys returned to Jefferson Parish to
assess the damage.
We were VERY lucky. Some outside damage, but our houses were still livable (and my wedding dress was ok). Chris stayed to work with the JPFD, the number of fires was unbelievable. Flood waters had to be pumped to put the fires out. We all worried about him, but understood what he had to do.
Over the next 2 weeks, we visited with family, went to several malls just to get out of the hotel, Joe rented a Harley, we took the kids to the aquarium (the bunnies were the favorite), and Alfonso and I found a place in Dallas to tango! Logan found he enjoyed sleeping in Tio and N Anie s bed.
We didn t mind, because every morning we'd awake to butterfly kiss . Every kid in the hotel eventually had a croupy cough at some point. Brody (now 15 months) developed a few new words! And, despite not being able to get him into school, Logan said his first full sentence! ( May I have cracker, please? )
We also went to Ft. Worth to get marriage license number 2, in Tarrant County.
Just in case Chris (our best man) got relieved from duty for a few days and could come back. (well, we were trying to maintain a positive outlook )
I couldn t find anywhere locally that needed a pediatrician. So, to keep busy, I began crocheting slippers for me and my sister. (note: a 15-month old WILL take yarn and run away with it while you re using it, despite the real toys surrounding him)
Saturday, September 10, 2005
We already had our cry back in Shreveport, so we were ok. Well, that s what I thought would happen. As the day went by, we thought the photographer would be arriving now the limos would be there by now we d be in the church now we d be married by now what can I say, the tears flowed.
But, let s face it, at least we were together. At least we had a home. At least we were alive!
Monday, September 19, 2005
We pack up and head to Natchitoches. We spend the night in one more hotel.
Things are looking up.
My sister will see her husband after more than 2 weeks apart. The Saints (now without a Superdome) lose to the Giants. At least it s some return to normalcy. And, Alfonso gets a call from Fr. Ian!
He stayed at St. Anthony through the storm, and eventually ended up in Hammond.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Home at last! Although, it just didn t look like my neighborhood driving home.
Roofs and building facades torn away, billboards bent in half, huge trees completely uprooted. We were so lucky.
Alfonso keeps taking his ring out the box to look at it, anxious to finally wear it!
A few more phone calls from Fr. Ian. He found a nice small church in Tickfaw, Louisiana. The name Our Lady of Pompeii. No joke. Named after a city that got completely demolished by a natural disaster. It was perfect!
Monday, September 26, 2005
A chance at a wedding an expired Louisiana marriage license. We head to Covington to get marriage license number 3 in St. Tammany parish. They were very supportive. At lunch, we get a call from Fr. Ian who was in the emergency room. Luckily, it was just a sprain!
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Joe has settled most of his things in his new room upstairs. And Alfonso's parents arrive and settle into their new room upstairs. It s gonna be a full house. But it s gonna be a house filled with family. (and, again, we re lucky to have a house).
We were also lucky to have some wedding presents which we used to make our wedding cake (thanks to Rie and Na-nan, and Barry and Deidre).
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
The bride and groom (now both unemployed), their parents, the best man and the matron of honor head out to Tickfaw. We meet up with Fr. Ian at Our Lady of Pompeii ready to get married. Our family members participated in the readings (which we had just picked out before the storm ). And Fr. Ian delivered the perfect Homily. It began with A couple in love, a friar, and a secluded church sounds like something out of Romeo and Juliet . It ended with a quote from the end of the first reading, "deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away."
After the ceremony, we all enjoyed white chocolate Bundt cake with a delicious almond glaze!
Alfonso and I completed the celebration at home, over dinner, in the company of our family and Fr. Ian. Topped off with a toast by the father-of-the-bride.
It was perfect.
(of course, big party in New Orleans to follow next year)
September 30, 2005
