A Wedding Ceremony For The Generations Part II

[DaveJohnson 0]

A Wedding Ceremony for the Generations Part II

A Wedding Log by Lt David Johnson

 

 

David Michael Johnson and Rebecca Natalie Cohen stood at the Altar of Temple Beth Israel in the city of Boston on the eastern sea board of North America on the planet Earth located somewhere in the Milky Way galaxy. They were facing Admiral Nakamura a man who had performed many of these ceremonies through the years in his dual role as station/starbase administrator and unofficial spiritual leader. The Admiral cleared his throat looked at them, then the congregation of their friends and family and began the ceremony that would forever link them with one another. “We are gathered here today to join two of Starfleet’s finest in holy matrimony. The couple has written their own vows which they will now read.” The Admiral nodded to David who took Julies hands in his and began his vows.

 

“When we first met the first thought that crossed my mind was, “Oh my God, I hope I didn’t hurt her.” But that was before I helped you up and really looked at you for the first time that I thought, “This woman is perfect for me, and I have to make sure I don’t lose her, because she has to be the one.” To quote Romeo, someone else who fell in love when he first sighted the woman of his dreams, Juliet, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” And like the summer’s we spent on Cape Cod together, you too are warm, bright and peaceful, but I know that you have a potential to be forceful like a summers storm, and that’s just one thing I have always admired about you and I promise to keep doing the things that make you love me, to honor you, to help you overcome your obstacles when you need me to and to always be with you, till death do us part.”

 

David looked at Thomas who handed him a small gold ring that was made out of small gold leaves “May this ring be the symbol of our eternal love,” he said as he slipped it onto Rebecca’s ring finger. Rebecca smiled at him, looked into his eyes for a long second and then began her vows.

 

“I remember a trip that we took about a year ago to Vulcan with T’Penna. She said she wanted to show us where she had been raised so that maybe we would have a better understanding of what growing up was like for a member of another species. After we visited the place she had been born and the Temple that she and her family had prayed at we hiked up Mt. Seleya. As we stood on the mountain’s peak looking out at all that there was to see, I realized just how small we were in comparison to the rest of the galaxy and how hard it really was being apart from you my first year in Starfleet when you were still at the academy. I realized then that if you ever asked me to marry you that I would want to stay in the same place, with you. But, being the person that you are you made that offer to me. Now I know that whatever corner of the galaxy we may travel too, we will be doing it together, and that is something that I am looking forward too.

 

Rebecca looked at her bride’s maid Jennifer who handed her a ring identical to the one she had on her finger. He slipped it onto his ring and said, “May this ring symbolize our love for each other and the bond which will exist between us, to death do us part.”

 

The two turned their attention back to the Admiral who continued the ceremony. “The union of two Starfleet officers is an event which had been practiced since its creation. As I look at you two I am reminded of another Starfleet couple that I married a number of years ago. At the time, the two of them were Lieutenants like you are now, but their marriage and their decision to serve aboard the same ship as you have made their relationship and their career’s even better. Eventually they both became starship Captain’s but when they went to command different ships it was so hard for them to be apart that when one of them was promoted to Admiral the other insisted that the Captain come and serve as first officer which they did. That kind of a gesture, like the one Rebecca is making to David is a testament to their feelings for each other and the bond between them which I hope will last a very long time.”

 

“And now without further adieu,” said the Admiral, “Lt David Michael Johnson, Lt Rebecca Natalie Cohen. By the power vested in me by Starfleet Command and the United Federation of Planets, I now pronounce you husband…and wife.” The Admiral turned to David smiled and said, “You may kiss the bride.”

 

David pulled back the veil covering Rebecca’s face and gazed into her eyes. The two looked at each other much as they had done the first time they met. David put his arms around her neck leaned in and the two kissed for the first time as a married couple. The two turned and faced the congregation of their family, friends and colleagues many of whom had tears of joy in their eyes. David interlocked his right arm with Rebecca’s and escorted her towards the door slowly. As they walked, they passed many Starfleet couples who had gathered for their happy occasion. They exited the Temple where a small transport shuttle was waiting to take them to the wedding reception. They stopped at the bottom of the staircase of stone steps where they were soon joined by their parents and other members of their family who embraced them.

 

After David had hugged and kissed respective members of the Cohen family and his mother he came to his father who shook his hand firmly smiled and said, “Now I think I am ready.” David smiled back then he and Rebecca entered the shuttle and left the Temple. Their dream had come true and even though the moment David had waited for was over he knew that their journey was just beginning.