Wednesday, August 14, 2019

A Surprise Wedding

Beloved & I were married on a boat on the St. John's River in DeBary, FL, Valentines Day, 2019.  Last second, and perfect.
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Pic, above, here.
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Early 2010 I met Beloved at a jobsite, he was the contractor, I had drawn the landscape.  When my client set up the meeting, she said it was mainly for me to meet him, and make sure, "You keep him in his place."  She had worked with him at another property, liked his work, but knew my plan would be a bit different for him.  Agrarian, historic, regenerative, today's Modern.
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Our 'Chapel', above, here.
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We had a good year working together professionally at that site, and others.  My longtime contractor, David Stevens had died, good contractors in my industry are tough to find, for the types of gardens I create, the new modern agrarian.  Landscape contractors make more money with formulaic industrialized landscapes, and their maintenance contract.  My gardens are beyond sustainable, (why aim low?), my gardens are regenerative.
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After yet another working dinner, we were pouring a driveway early next morning for a client, Beloved threw a Hail Mary.  He kissed me.  More, during the kiss he asked me to marry him.  Until that moment, he had been the perfect gentleman.  Me, shocked much?
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A small town boy, I had experienced Beloved's manner with his employees, clients, vendors, and subcontractors for almost a year, with respect.  Always appreciating his professionalism towards me.
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Remember, Love American Style?
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Image result for love american style tv show
Pic, above, here.
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It was my turn to move fast.  Told him, immediately after that nice Hail Mary kiss, my life was beyond full, and there would be no 'fireworks' until that fullness deflated.  He could walk-on-by, or wait.
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Almost a full decade has passed since Beloved's 1st kiss.  There is something I will miss from those years, his proposals.  We had a consultation job in Silicone Valley, on acreage, he proposed during a lunch at Fisherman's Wharf.  Our table overlooked a tiny marina with 6-8 commercial fishing boats.  Took most of lunch to realize the full expanse of the Golden Gate Bridge was just beyond.  Boom, proposal.
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Key West, yep, proposal.  Galveston Bay, where I grew up, of course, a proposal.  Coast of Maine, proposal.  Destin, FL, proposal.  Lake Burton, GA, under a seemingly full Milky Way, proposal.  Flying over Cuba, proposal.  Jamaica, proposal.  Lake Erie, proposal.  Niagara Falls, proposal.  Pittsburgh, Duquesne Incline, proposal.  Moultrie, Georgia, proposal.  The High Line Garden, New York City, a proposal.  Jekyll Island, Georgia, proposal.  More of course, then last December the oddest proposal, but still a surprise, in a parking lot, about to eat at our favorite local Italian restaurant at Lake Oconee.  This time I scared Beloved.  I said, "Yes, and let's put a date on it."
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Weeks passed, and Feb. 1st he said we needed to get serious about a wedding, or it would be another year.  He asked me in all the world where would I like to get married.  The pontoon boat Eco Tour of the St. Johns River we had taken a year earlier had been like entering a hologram from a diorama at the American Museum of Natural History.  But better, it was being part of God's majesty.  Too rare those moments, in our industrialized world.
 
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 Wedding Reception, above, The Swamp House.
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With less than 2 weeks putting the wedding together, the boat was full.  We hired the boat, Eco Tours, for the normal 2 hour river & wildlife tour.  We chose to be married at the 1 hour point.  Eight minutes into the boat ride, a huge alligator was sunning himself at river's edge.  He clocked in at least 100 years old, indicated by his size.  What a thrill, best wedding ever, at only 8 minutes.
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Manatees, birds, turtles, perfect weather, etc.  On the boat, below, the preacher began the vows with Beloved.  Until that point everything had been perfect.  As Beloved began reciting his vows, tears streamed down his cheeks. Would I even have a voice for mine?  With tears and rough voice I was getting thru my own vows, to Beloved, and made the mistake of looking at our friends filling the pews.  Every face had tears.   
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St. John's River Eco Tours, LLC (DeBary) - Book in Destination 2019 - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - TripAdvisor
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We get home, and it was a friend remarking about my choosing the St. Johns River.
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St. John's River Eco Tours, LLC (DeBary) - Book in Destination 2019 - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - TripAdvisor
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Mario Buatta remarked, during the 80's in House & Garden, that we try to recreate the rooms that first impressed us as a child.
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He was right, and I'll add, we try to recreate the garden that first impressed us as a child.
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Why exactly had I chosen the St. Johns River?  It's the closest I've seen since 1966 of what it looked like behind my parents house, on Clear Creek, Nassau Bay, TX.  Where I played.  Nothing had been built yet, it was me and the salt water, marsh, Spanish moss, tropical birds, fish, alligators, scents, the full package, same as the St. Johns River in DeBary, FL.
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My friend understood my choice, before I did.
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St. John's River Eco Tours, LLC (DeBary) - Book in Destination 2019 - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - TripAdvisor
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The friend making the remark, owns the garden where I met Beloved, below.
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Her garden is, she already knows, my garden too.  Big news about her garden, she doesn't know yet.  Happy and proud it's BIG yet wish it weren't quite so big.  I've made sure there are legal measures in place to keep this BIG news from getting bigger than she would want.  We've got a late morning appointment this Friday to walk her grounds. 
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TARA DILLARD: Planting in Drifts + Ultimate Status Symbol.  A new garden designed to look old.  Bulbs, winter, meadow.:
Pic, above, in the garden where Beloved & I met, and worked.
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Read in the NYTimes, long ago, "The more we go inward, the more we outwardly connect."
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Who knew being in gardens, one at a time, across decades, and continents, would connect to so much ?  Making a life.
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Garden & Be Well,   XO T
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Thank you for your outpouring of prayers and thoughts and stories.  You've fortified me with your own strengths and beliefs in God.  Beloved came thru surgery for cancer of the prostate August 1st, pathology report indicating he should now be clear of prostate cancer.  He's still exhausted, sore, incisions healing, rather miserable but in joy at the grace of his outcome.
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They've decided to give him a chemo treatment, beads, for his liver cancer.   His liver transplant should take place in 6-8 months.
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Our friends at home, your generosity of food ministry.  Humbling.  And friends who have already handled intensive caregiving, your love, hugs, advice, knowing laughter, getting me through.

12 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Oh my goodness dear Tara ~ your plate has been full this year. Congrats on your wedding, a wonderful, patient husband waiting all those years. He will be in my prayers for complete healing. I did not know of his health issue until reading this post. This post really touched my heart with your love for each other and the gardens you've created.

Love, hugs & prayers for both of you ~ FlowerLady

CC said...

Best wishes for marrying your Beloved. Glad to hear his surgery went well.
Prayers & smiles for you.

Barbara Pilcher said...

Thank you for sharing this amazing story about two amazing people. Keep going!

martamag said...

Je suis régulièrement votre excellent blog. Vos photos sont ravissantes, surtout les dernières deux.

Vickie H. said...

Lord, lord, lord, how I love this blog and your writing! Prayers for you and Beloved as you continue together on this journey. I am believing he will heal quickly and that he will get that transplant, sooner rather than later! I love the marriage story...too beautiful! May God be with both of you every moment, every step.

Unknown said...

Blessing from a fellow gardener from New Zeland.
My garden is my sanctuary and healer from all ills of the world.
Your stories are so filled with charm and grace and I thank you
for enriching and inspiring my day.
My garden is sub-tropical and very eclectic and a real outlet
for my love of plants. Always learning and creating.
Warmest wishes,
Rosie

Cyndia said...

Tara, tears streaming down my face as well, as I read this. Beautiful courtship. It is rare and precious to have what you have, and I think you know that. I am on year 27 of my rare and precious love. He has battled non-Hodgkins for 20 years of that time, reminding us all the while that we cherish what we have while we have our time together. I am glad your Beloved is doing so well. Many wishes for successful treatment and transplant, and many more years together.

Vera said...

Thank you for sharing your life & your gardens with all of us.

Pray for nothing but smooth sailing from here on out!

Hugs & prayers!

V

La Contessa said...

THIS WAS GORGEOUS TO READ!
I need to UNSUBSCRIBE and RE_SUBSCRIBE so it comes to my GMAIL ACCOUNT!
I rarely LOOK at the AOL............

CONGRATULATIONS.........AND I would give that FRIEND A GREAT BIG HUG every time you see HER!
XX

mona gabriel said...

Tara,
This is such a sweet post. Congratulations on your perfect wedding..
I always look forward to your writing
Love,
Mona

Rose Button said...

Lovely story about the proposals. Congratulations on your marriage and may you and your beloved have good things around the corner.

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