Our Wedding
by Gerald Lee Jordan2 March 2021 20:29 (NZT)
Tracy and I Met Online
It was July 2020 and Aotearoa New Zealand was out of our first lock-down. People were making their way back to offices and other public venues. After the better part of two months in lock-down at home with my son, New Zealand had beaten COVID-19 and I was back in an office and trying to get into the rhythm of work again. I got a message on my phone from the the vegetarian/vegan dating app that I had joined.
It was a Friday morning. I was feeling relaxed at thoughts of the weekend coming. I was feeling relaxed, because my meditation practice had entered another depth a few days before (discussed here). I was feeling relaxed because I was going to meet a friend for coffee in less than two hours. Everything was great. Minutes before, I had taken a photo of Mana Island, while waiting for the train to the city - basking in the view (that photo on Instagram follows this paragraph)
I look at the app and there is a message from someone I had "liked" which speaks to my heart. I sense the gentleness, the sincerity. I respond in kind. What followed was one of the most genuine and natural interactions of my life. I was open to her heart and needs and she was open to mine. At one point, she commented on how easy it was between us and I smiled and agreed. That was more than seven months ago and it has remained this way between us.
Getting Married
We decided we would marry and initially thought of later this year. One morning, I woke to a message from Tracy, suggesting that an online wedding was possible. The last moments before I had drifted to sleep, I had wondered if an online wedding was possible and I wake to Tracy having the same idea. Immediately, I responded that we should do this and she agreed. We loved each other and saw no reason to wait, regardless of some opinions later voiced by others. In matters of love, follow your heart.
We planned our wedding, with the officiant in Provo, Utah, Tracy in North Carolina and me in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Online Wedding
We got married at 11.30 New Zealand time on 27 February and 17.30 US Eastern time on 26 February.
Our loved ones were online, with Tracy's children, brother, sister and brother-in-law at her home. At my home was my best man (my son, Jack), my witness (Steve) and me.
The officiant took us through the ceremony of our creating, which included karakia, pepeha, poems read by her children, a song performed by my son and the reciting of our vows.
I was single for almost seven years because I was waiting for Tracy. I knew I had to follow my heart and not settle for just anyone. I knew she would be loving, open, compassionate (she is vegan), intelligent, insightful and would get my sense of humour. She is all of those things and more.
The Future
We will meet this year as husband and wife. We are planning the details for the coming months and no doubt there will be more to share here, with you.
Aroha nui,
Gerald Lee Jordan, MBA, MEd, MCouns ❤️