The Next Stage of Life? Weddings and Babies
We are officially in our twenties - the first marriages and babies are happening! This weekend our friend Miri got married. (For those of you who know Dan Neubert - that was his host sister during our exchange year.) Fabi and the Kleinbottwar folks have known her since kindergarten. We drove to and from the festivities together in our "Kleinbottwar Party Bus."
The wedding took place in the Martin's Church in Großbottwar. The couple chose a mix of English and German songs, and the sermon was about two plants in the same pot, growing together and drawing nutrients from the same fertile soil. The "plants" were warned not to trim each other too much with harsh words, but instead to grow towards each other and upwards toward heaven.
Afterwards we drove to Güglingen (try pronouncing that, Americans) for the reception. The "fest hall" was an old-fashioned building big enough for the 140 guests, complete with medieval shutters and flowers in every window.
The inside was just as glorious with its bubble chandeliers, giant murals, performance stage and Shakespeare-reminiscent balcony!
The evening included seating arrangements, candelabras, a toddler in lederhosen, games for the guests, the induction of the bride into a German boy scouts troupe, grilled jumbo shrimp, a hand-painted portrait of the couple, and the release of helium balloons with self-addressed postcards attached (to be sent to the couple upon landing... from whoever's yard they land in). Boy, was it a shindig!
Of the friends invited, Fabi and I were one of two "already-married" couples. The other came with their cute baby boy, Cedric (on the right). It's interesting to see the friend group start new stages of life - there's a whole new generation coming that will view us as "Mom & Dad and their crazy friends."
Later, while watching people drunkenly boogie on the dance floor, I sat at our table and thought about the idea of belonging. I've now moved to Germany and gotten married to a German native. I know I made the right decision, but it's strange to think that when my future children look up at the "crazy friends of Mom and Dad," they might see this group instead of the friends that I grew up with.
Life always, always goes on. Over time, I've started to belong to the Kleinbottwarers, or, as we proudly call ourselves, the "Kleinbottwar Homies and Friends" (sometimes featuring special guests). I do feel like I've found a place here, though I'm still sometimes hesitant to claim it. I fear not sufficiently appreciating or remembering all the good times and people on my home continent. But perhaps that's part of this life stage for everybody.
The wedding took place in the Martin's Church in Großbottwar. The couple chose a mix of English and German songs, and the sermon was about two plants in the same pot, growing together and drawing nutrients from the same fertile soil. The "plants" were warned not to trim each other too much with harsh words, but instead to grow towards each other and upwards toward heaven.
Afterwards we drove to Güglingen (try pronouncing that, Americans) for the reception. The "fest hall" was an old-fashioned building big enough for the 140 guests, complete with medieval shutters and flowers in every window.
The inside was just as glorious with its bubble chandeliers, giant murals, performance stage and Shakespeare-reminiscent balcony!
The evening included seating arrangements, candelabras, a toddler in lederhosen, games for the guests, the induction of the bride into a German boy scouts troupe, grilled jumbo shrimp, a hand-painted portrait of the couple, and the release of helium balloons with self-addressed postcards attached (to be sent to the couple upon landing... from whoever's yard they land in). Boy, was it a shindig!
Of the friends invited, Fabi and I were one of two "already-married" couples. The other came with their cute baby boy, Cedric (on the right). It's interesting to see the friend group start new stages of life - there's a whole new generation coming that will view us as "Mom & Dad and their crazy friends."
Later, while watching people drunkenly boogie on the dance floor, I sat at our table and thought about the idea of belonging. I've now moved to Germany and gotten married to a German native. I know I made the right decision, but it's strange to think that when my future children look up at the "crazy friends of Mom and Dad," they might see this group instead of the friends that I grew up with.
Life always, always goes on. Over time, I've started to belong to the Kleinbottwarers, or, as we proudly call ourselves, the "Kleinbottwar Homies and Friends" (sometimes featuring special guests). I do feel like I've found a place here, though I'm still sometimes hesitant to claim it. I fear not sufficiently appreciating or remembering all the good times and people on my home continent. But perhaps that's part of this life stage for everybody.
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