Chapter 40: Fairy Tale Wedding

— Chapters appear as excerpts only. —

— Full chapters will appear in the printed published book. —

I was amazed at how fast the weeks were going by, now that I was out of high school and in university. Before I knew it, the first term was over and we were starting our Christmas break. With three weeks off, I wanted to use the time to work and make some money, so I applied for and got a job at the post office sorting mail, working night shift, to help fill in for the Christmas rush. 

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It is difficult for me to describe the excitement I had in anticipation of our wedding. Without any exaggeration, it was a dream coming true for me. I had found the perfect husband, we would be getting married in Germany, and I had my beautiful engagement ring with the matching wedding ring soon to be placed on my finger. The dress store packed my wedding dress in a large cardboard box. When we took it through security at the airport, they asked what was in that box. It was very unusual for someone to be travelling with such a large box. I proudly declared it was my wedding dress. They offered congratulations and did not bother to open it.

When we flew over Europe, I was mesmerized looking down at the patchwork quilt of fields and towns. Roland, my mom and I arrived in Amsterdam and took an overnight train to Karlsruhe in Germany. Along the way, when we got hungry, we went to the dining car. I saw someone eating rouladen, a German dish made with thin slices of beef wrapped around bacon, onions, mustard and pickles. Roland ordered it for me and it was mouth-wateringly delicious. I knew right then that this trip would be a gastronomic success.

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On Saturday, May 16, I got up early and, naturally, I was quite excited — it was my wedding day! The church ceremony was scheduled for 11 a.m. The Walther household was a hub of activity. Roland’s cousin Anneliese volunteered to come over to help me dress and get ready. I rarely wore much make-up, so she brought some with her. She applied some mascara on my eyelashes and red lipstick on my lips. I wasn’t sure that this was what I wanted, as I usually wore very pale, light pink lipstick, but I was so glad she was helping me. I should have known that I would need some extra colour on my lips for such a special day as this. Someone ordered my bouquet of flowers which was made up of red roses surrounded by white sprigs, very simple but pretty.

About 20 minutes before the ceremony, I could hear church bells ringing throughout the valley. They were faster and more intense than normal. I asked Roland why they were ringing so loud and so quick.

“They are ringing for you!” he said. “That’s to summon the people to the church. That’s the way they ring when there is a wedding.”

The bells were ringing for me. Imagine that! I couldn’t believe it, that I could ever be so special. This Minnitaki girl had bells ringing for her. It chokes me up even today when I think about it.

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When we arrived back to the Toronto airport in Canada, we had to declare at customs any purchases we were bringing in from another country. I did not declare our wedding gifts as I had no idea what anything cost. I got quite nervous when the agents insisted that we open up one of the suitcases. I hoped they would not pick the one full of wedding gifts. I wouldn’t know how to explain why I didn’t claim those items. Luckily, they picked my mother’s suitcase. They seemed to be losing patience as it took her a while to find the key and then, when she opened it, several of her panties fell out. They rifled around in the suitcase very quickly, told her to close it, and we went through without a problem.

And now on to life’s next chapter. I was a very happy wife and looking forward to my new summer job.

I was no longer a Freak. I had finally gotten rid of my name. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Marlene Walther.