Musings (for Nick and Liz Metcalf)

If we zoom in close, right up close, we see two pairs of hands. Holding tight to one
another, tight to the life they’ve lived together, the work they’ve done to get here, the
prospects they have for one another. These hands have found each other, felt each
other’s skin, soft and rough, tan and pale, prepared for rings that will wrap around their
fingers.

Now zoom out and see the hands of the audience, clasping to one another or to
themselves, hands who know the work that love takes, the way it feels under our finger
tips. Hands ready for a rousing applause.

Now zoom in, and see two sets of eyes. Both blue, both deep and full of life. These eyes
locked many years ago, and were unable to resist one another’s gaze to this day. They’ve
seen all of the other’s beauty and generosity, as well as flaws and shortcomings. They’ve
watched each other grow.

If we zoom out, we see all of the eyes of their friends and families, watching a white
dress next to a grey suit, some of them wet with tears, all of them filled with happiness
and hope.

Now zoom in again, where we see two mouths, smiling at one another. Two mouths that
have shared the stories of their pasts and the anticipation of their futures, open wide and
laughing most of the time. Two mouths who have kissed, probably once or twice before
… and will kiss with promise and sanctity today in front of all of us.

Zoom out to over a hundred mouths, smiling and laughing along with them, quivering a
bit if crying, but happy and spread wide like the sky.

Now zoom back in, wayyyy in, to see beneath these fancy clothes and these layers of skin
and bone and muscle, two hearts. They are in sync now, bursting with excitement, ready
to spend the rest of their days in a happy, thumping dance, together.