Hello everyone! I have been asked by the lovely Marsha at Splenderosa to join her International Blog Party “By Invitation Only.” It is quite a thrill to be participating along with some of the blog world’s finest. Today’s theme is “Weddings”…
My photos are faded now. But my memories are fresh. I am not single. Nor have I been married. I have a ring but it is not a wedding band. Let me explain.
Two wild things, two wanderers recognized something in the other and fell head over heels in love. They enmeshed their disparate lives by creating a team as a travel writer and photographer. And discovered the world and each other…together. Wherever they were, that was where home was.
And so my companion Remi Benali and I found ourselves on Bora Bora in February 2005. It was our most glamorous assignment so far, covering Bora Bora Cruises slow circle of the Leeward Islands for the French travel magazine Hotel & Lodge. We swam amidst the sharks only to find that a floating champagne bar had magically appeared when we came up for air. We were giddy with good fortune, dumb-founded by our luck. But it is also harder work than one outside of the métier can understand and we took it so. We didn’t see the time passing but felt it brushing past our skin.
One evening, just as the sun was tipping its hat in farewell, I could hear Remi’s gentle pad behind me as I gazed out onto the swirling sea. I turned and saw he held a jewelry box in his hand. My heart started to pound and I searched his gaze. Was this…? Would he…? No, no, not exactly. Inside the box, was the most beautiful pearl, one that glimmered green like the waves below me on one side and glowed pink like my heart on the other. A feeling, a moment, solidified into a tangible thing. It is a commitment ring. A promise was made with it and it has been kept. It is the most precious object I own.
Five months and much paperwork later, we made that promise legal by making a PACs or a Pacte Civil de Solidarité in the Town Hall, an exceptional option here in France. Solidarity. To stand by each other, to promise to take care of the other. It is so right for our couple, who have been through so much after having previously been so independent. I wore a white Margiela jacket and we stole a quick kiss as the notary wished us congratulations. But that was it. No champagne, no cake smushed in faces. We rushed back to our tiny apartment and started packing our bags for an especially challenging assignment in Tibet. We left before dawn the next morning. There was no time for ruminating high in the Himalayas but what we saw imprinted us strongly, with weight. And fifteen minutes after our return to Paris, Remi found an internet ad for a house that would finally take us to Arles, the city that had called to us. In Provence.
In Tibet. ©Remi Benali
All of this doesn’t mean that I don’t have my moments of rêverie. I honestly have no idea if we will ever tie the knot as our being together is still an active, not a given choice, but if we do, I know exactly where I would like us to go to do so–back to Bali. We have been twice on assignments and it is magical for both Remi and I. We have roamed the island and been intoxicated by its romance. We could have a simple ceremony on the beach with just our immediate family at our sides. We could be barefoot in the sand with the waves as music. I would charm Remi into wearing his sarong (he is even more masculin in one)…
…and I would don my favorite champagne silk bias gown with matching vintage pearls.
And of course, the pearl of Bora Bora.
And although our lives have taken another turn, our existence is now quite simple and our travelling days are perhaps over, for the past eleven years I have been with an incredible man. Finally, all of our voyages together were our lune de miel. For yes, we did dine by candlelight in the garden and spread the rose petals out with our toes the evening that I took the above photo along with too many memories to mention. Today, I run my finger over the pearls surface and remember that I don’t need any more than all I already have.
I never dreamed of being married, not even when I was a young girl. I don’t know why, my parents certainly gave me a wonderful, lasting example. But I did hope, for so long, that one day I would meet a man that I would love and respect, who would feel the same for me. Who would appreciate me for who I am and vice versa. That we could build a life together in trust. A wedding then of heart, mind and spirit.
I feel very fortunate.
Cue music:
For those of you that are visiting for the first time, I really want to extend a warm bienvenue. And for my wonderful readers and friends, please take a moment if you can to visit some of the other posts. You will be able to find them all at Splenderosa. How wonderful to explore and dream!
How beautiful Heather! Like you I never dreamed of being married but then someone special came along and changed all that. The husband and I were married on a beach, barefooted with close family and friends, I highly reccoommend it. My wedding present from him was a long strand of stunning pearls. So as you can see Heather I love your story because it rings so close to mine.
XX
Debra~
PERFECT!JUST PERFECT!What a beautiful post!Plus, to see you two front on in the photos!A real JoY!
Now, I just dont get it why you have 183 looky-lous and some of the others have thousands.It just shows me that good taste is not found frequently!YOur musings and writings and photos so out do some of those other people……….I find so many of them actaully boring after a bit cause they are using photos that are NOT theirs and doing posts that are so mundane!You on the other side write from the HEART!And I love that!Keep going LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD.Do you know that was one of my favorite books as a child!??xxxxx
Merci Beaucoup, Virginia!
Oh I loved your story and thank you for sharing it with us. May you have a long and happy life together.
V
Thank you so much Mona! And hooray for having a wild heart–all the more fascinating if it is hid beneath a traditional exterior too!
Ma chére Marsha, you are going to have to wait a very, very loooong time before you see Remi in his sarong! The only way that I even got away with posting that photo of him is by having the entire post be a surprise for his eyes this morning. Which was fun. And yes, we were very fortunate to travel so much together–and as you perfectly understood, to create something tangible always meant a lot to us. It still does–he is so supportive about my photography and writing for this blog and I remain involved in his business too.
Everyone has been so welcoming Marsha but I'll take that hug–thank you!!!
A beautiful story…I will ponder this all day long. I'm such a traditionalist…but inside me is a wild heart. Welcome to the group.
Dear Colette, you really know how to make an entrance! Thank you so much for signing up and I will look forward to saying hello over at your place. What a gorgeous, fascinating country you live in…
How is that chubby cheeked Grandson of yours doing, Victoria? Hope all is well with you and yours and thank you so much for the very, very kind compliments!
Merci, Sharon. 🙂 Heading over right now to see what kind of beautiful you have prepared for today…