Pieter and Nicola
Geelbek
August 20, 2010
Remember your aides de memoires
Onthou om te onthou.
oooOOOooo
I’m missing something. I can’t seem to find it.
I don’t know what I am looking for.
Ah! There it is, my blue file.
Sorry about that, folks. I had to prepare a set of memory aids otherwise I am certain to forget everything I want to say.
Now, let me see.
Astronomy. Birds, hmm a shoe-bill stork, Ludwigs bustard – impressive.
Books. Camera. Camping. Columbus. Flowers. Hiking. Langebaan. Middelburg. Mountains. Nicola. Parexel. Photography. Pretoria. Pieter.
Ah, here we are: Pieter and Nicola
Now, 2010. So: 2001, 2002, 2003, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. That’s it: 2010.
Now August. January, February, March, …July, September, October …. What?
November, December. Something is wrong! Where is my speech?
April, June, August. Oh, sorry, just a misfile!
2010, August 20. So 1, 2, … Nah! Let’s skip that!
Here we are, at last!
Pieter and Nicola
Geelbek
August 20, 2010
Item No 1: How did…. How? Now what?
Ah, I got it! Of course!
Hou dit kort! That’s what Pieter said. Keep it short!
OK, Let me see if I can manage to Hou dit kort.
Item No 2: Welcome.
Everybody! You are all very welcome on this occasion.
Family members on both sides, all friends, from near or far, anybody along just for the ride … WELLCOME! Your attendance … duly noted, fully appreciated. Thank you all for coming.
Item No 3: The couple.
Pieter and Nicola: You ready to proceed to Item No 4? Have you seen any flowers yet? Any new birds? No turning back? You comfortable?
Now to the matter at hand. And I’ll remember: Hou dit kort!
Item No 4: The VOWS
Pastor: Pieter and Nicola: Will you answer me right now,
These Questions as your wedding vow?
Both: Yes, I will answer you right now,
These questions as my wedding vow.
Pastor: Pieter: Will you take Nicola as your wife?
Will you love her all your life?
Pieter: Yes, I take her as my wife,
Yes I’ll love her all my life.
Pastor: Nicola Will you have Pieter, and also hold
And not just when you’re feeling cold?
Nicola: Yes, I will have and I will hold,
And not just when I’m feeling cold,
Yes I will love him all my life
As I take him to be his wife.
Pastor: Pieter, Will you love through good and bad,
Whether you’re happy or sad?
Pieter: Yes, I’ll love through good and bad,
Whether we’re happy or sad,
Yes, I will have and I will hold,
Just as I have already told,
Yes, I will love her all my life,
Yes, I will take her as my wife!
Pastor: Nicola, Will you love him if you’re rich?
Or if you’re poor, and in a ditch?
Nicola: Yes I’ll love him if we’re rich,
And I will love him in a ditch,
I’ll love him through good times and bad,
Whether we are happy or sad,
Yes, I will have and I will hold,
(I could have sworn this had been told!),
I promise to love all my life,
This man, and be his lawful wife!
Pastor: Pieter, Will you love her when you’re fit,
And also when you’re feeling Sick?
Pieter: Yes, I’ll love her when we’re fit,
And when we’re hurt, and when we’re sick,
And I will love her when we’re rich,
And I will love her in a ditch,
And I will love through good and bad,
And I will love when glad or sad,
Yes, I will have and I will hold,
Ten years from now a thousandfold,
Yes I will love for my whole life,
This lovely woman as my wife!
Pastor: Nicola, Will you love with all your heart?
Will you love till death you part?
Nicola : Yes I’ll love with all my heart,
From now until death do us part,
And I will love him when we’re rich,
And when we’re broke and in a ditch,
And when we’re fit and when we’re sick,
(Oh, Can’t we get this finished quick?),
Yes I will love through good and bad,
And I will love when glad or sad,
And I will have and I will hold,
From now until the stars grow cold,
I’ll love him my entire life,
Yes, I will take him and be his wife!
Pastor: Then , Pieter, if you’ll take her as your wife,
And, Nicola, if you’ll love him all your life,
And if you’ll have and if you’ll hold,
As you have at this time told,
And if you’ll love through good and bad,
And whether you’re happy or sad,
And love in sickness, and in health,
And when you’re poor, and when in wealth,
And if you’ll love with all your heart,
From now until death do you part,
If you’ll love each other through and through,
Please, Hou dit kort and
answer with these words:
Both (shout): I DO!
Pastor: You do? Really?
OK then.
Item No 5: The Rings
I believe that you have come prepared to exchange rings as symbols or tokens of your undying love for each other …
Actually as proof sometime in the future that this day really did happen!
You now can now swop your bright shiney thingies!
Item No 6: A serious Hou dit kort-moment:
Pieter and Nicola, this is your day. Forget all the stress and arrangements of the past weeks and months. Disregard everybody around you.
Please turn toward and face each other.
Give each other your right hand.
Look each other in the eye.
Now, like you really mean it, say to each other: I do!
That’s it! You’ve done it! You’ve confirmed your vows.
You’re married!
Pieter, now is your turn. You may kiss the bride!
But please : Hou dit kort!
And folks, while they continue to Hou dit kort, let’s all proceed to the back. Somewhere there is flower scatterlings to be used as confetti. I think we can form a passageway for the procession to walk through. After that there are some savoury refreshments available – actually intended as a very special substitute wedding cake. Help yourself and enjoy. Then there will be plenty opportunity for family photographs – posed as well as candid shots. Eventually we should all be able to reach the bride and have our own chance to Hou dit kort!