'Twas the week before Christmas..
Bobby had been stuck in Manila planning a solid waste conference and I had already been in New York visiting my family for a few weeks. We had just heard from Peace Corps that we will need not just to be married already in order to apply but would need to be married 6 months at least before they would send us out. So we rushed through things to try to get our marriage in order.
There had been some complications; we forgot to ask for Bobby's birth certificate before Chantal had left. Luckily we were able to stop by the church where he had been baptized and got his baptisimal records no problem. Luckily, Ange is also a registered minister of the Universal Life Church and was able to perform the ceremony. Jenny and I quickly planned what was to be a "bridal shower" but was more of an engagement party although there had not yet been a proposal.
The party was in a restaurant on the Upper East Side so Bobby, Sandrine, Chantal, Ange and I made head out early to squeeze in a visit to the Met. We also got a chance to stoll along 5th Avenue and see the city decked for the holidays. Unfortunately, that same week was the 1st NYC transit strike in about 20 years or so. Luckily, it did not effect the party as the strike was not in full effect yet.
The day that we got our marriage license was the day that Bobby proposed. Chantal had told me that she had a gift for me that had to be opened immediately. They bring out a huge bag that had a box covered in bright tissue papers. Inside the box was a series of cards, each of which stating some attribute of mine followed by a little present reflecting that card. Finally the last card read "will you marry me" with a ring attached. I was really surprised and a bit baffled because for most of the time I thought the box was from Chantal.
The next day we signed our marriage papers. The NYC transit strike helped prevent a bunch of people from making it and it was such short notice for others. We were hoping to keep everything very quiet and simple as we had planned to have a formal wedding later. We were married at the Giebert's house and Chantal had arranged last minute for a catered spread, wedding cake and champagne. Certainly far more than we had expected.
It was all very whirlwind and pretty chaotic during that short time there. We returned to the Philippines about a week later as newlyweds.
