2012: Year of the wedding

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eddings seem to be the order of the day for 2012.

The Wonder Woman, my wife, and I have been to godless weddings, god-full weddings and everything in between. We’ve been to weddings of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends — five in all. Some of you have been to more. No matter. Love is love, whether it comes in big or small doses, and marriage remains in vogue.

We’ve also seen the power of prayer. Whether you’re a believer or not, prayer works. Even if you call it mindfulness. Or intense concentration. Whatever.

You may pray to God. Or to a Higher Power. Or maybe even the sun. No matter.

The last wedding was held on a forever sunny September Saturday in one of those supremely deep and beguiling Blue Mountains canyons. Several years earlier a wildfire had roared through the canyon. The wildfire had burned the ridge to the east and the ridge to the west. The wildfire had burned to the south and north. But somehow, someway, the wildfire had spared the mountain cabin and primeval forest in the draw where the wedding was held.

Lots of prayers were sent heavenward to spare that little piece of paradise.

Now our beautiful niece and her husband were committing themselves to a lifelong love.

The bigger point is, when life throws you fires, crimes and accidents, against seemingly insurmountable odds, believe something good will happen. Hunker down. Don’t quit before the miracle.

A miracle happened to save that mountain cabin. A miracle happened to bring two wonderful people together to make a future for themselves and their family.

Fifty years from now, the couple will celebrate their golden anniversary at the same spot. I’ll be 105 years old. I want to be there, and that will take a lot of good living — and a few prayers.

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