Tied the Knot 12-31-07

It all began New Years' Eve 2001. Bill & Debbie were involved in a Fundraiser for a local charity and met aboard the Riverboat, Brazos Belle, in Waco, Texas. Officially engaged August 29, 2003, cruising out of Nassau, Bahamas, February 2006 and reaching Puerta La Cruz, Venezuela in December 2007. The moment was right, the date was right & Manuela needed a project, so with a little preparation we tied the knot aboard the M/V Dock Queen. Sid Olshefski officiating, Manuela & Geri in attendance. A sunset wedding, champagne toast on board & dinner under the Tree of Knowledge. It was our chance to publically say our vows with newly found friends as witnesses. A moment to always be treasured.

The Vows:

MARRIAGE IS NOT UNLIKE AN OCEAN VOYAGE, WITH THIS PROMISE OF ADVENTURE, AND THE UNKNOWN, COMPLETE WITH ALTERNATING PERIODS OF STORMY WEATHER, PERFECT CALM AND NEW HORIZONS.
BILL AND DEBBIE BEGIN SUCH A VOYAGE THIS AFTERNOON, AND HAVING A FRESH START, THEY WILL BE FREE TO DIRECT ITS COURSE AND TEMPO. THIS SETTING AT SEA CAME WITH MUCH LOVE AND CARE FOR ALL OF YOU TO ENJOY, AND BILL AND DEBBIE WELCOME YOU ABOARD THE DOCK QUEEN TO SHARE THIS SPECIAL MOMENT. WE FIND OURSELVES REMOVED IN PART FROM THE USUAL DISTRACTIONS FOUND IN OUR URBAN EXISTENCE REPLACED INSTEAD BY A SENSE OF CALM AND SERENITY THAT MOST OF US FEEL WHEN WE ARE CLOSE TO THE SEA. FURTHER, GOD CREATED THE SEAS UPON THE EARTH FROM WHICH ALL LIFE BEGAN, AND IN A SYMBOLIC MANNER, THE SEAS IS ONCE AGAIN PLAYING ITS PART AS WITNESS TO A NEW CREATION, THE JOINING OF THESE TWO SPECIAL PEOPLE INTO MARRIAGE.
LOVE IS FRIENDSHIP SET ON FIRE.
LOVE IS THE ONLY FLOWER THAT GROWS AND BLOSSOMS WITHOUT THE AID OF THE SEASONS.
LOVE DOES NOT CONSIST IN GAZING IN EACH OTHER, BUT OF LOOKING OUTWARD TOGETHER IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
TWO SOULS WITH BUT A SINGLE THOUGHT;
TWO HEARTS THAT BEAT AS ONE.

BILL AND DEBBIE TAKE EACH OTHERS HAND AND LOOK AT EACH OTHER:
BILL WILL YOU TAKE DEBBIE TO BE YOUR WEDDED WIFE, TO LOVE, TO CHERISH, TO CONTINUALLY BESTOW UPON HER YOUR HEART’S DEEPEST DEVOTION?
DEBBIE WILL YOU TAKE BILL TO BE YOUR WEDDED HUSBAND, TO LOVE, TO CHERISH, TO CONTINUALLY BESTOW UPON HIM YOUR HEART’S DEEPEST DEVOTION?
(brides made hands Bill the rose for Debbie)
BILL REPEAT AFTER ME:
LIKE THE PETALS OF A ROSE
LIKE THE GRAINS OF SAND ON THE BEACH
I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU DEBBIE
TO SHELTER YOU FROM THE STORM
IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD
I CARE FOR YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU CARE FOR ME
YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
AND I WILL ALWAYS SEE
THE JOY WE WILL HAVE TOGETHER

(brides made gives the rose to Debbie)
DEBBIE REPEAT AFTER ME
LIKE THE PETALS OF A ROSE
LIKE THE GRAINS OF SAND ON THE BEACH
I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU BILL
TO SHELTER YOU FROM THE STORM
IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD
I CARE FOR YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU CARE FOR ME
YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
AND I WILL ALWAYS SEE
THE JOY WE WILL HAVE TOGETHER
YOU ARE AT EACH OTHER’S SIDE THIS DAY…..AS HUSBAND AND WIFE…….FOR RICHER FOR POORER……IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH……THROUGH BOTH STORM AND CALM……..AND WITH GOD’S GUIDANCE……..YOU SHALL ASK ALWAYS………HOW YOU CAN GIVE TO THE OTHER……….AS BEST OF FRIENDS………….CARING AND SHARING TOGETHER…………AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LOVE.
MAY BILL AND DEBBIE FIND IN EACH OTHER THE LOVE AND COMPANIONSHIP THAT MEN AND WOMEN SEARCH FOR………
MAY YOUR LIVES CONTINUE TO GROW IN A POSITIVE AND BALANCED MANNER……
AND FROM THE OUTSIDE THRU WORK, TRAVEL AND EXPERIENCE, AND FROM THE INSIDE THRU SHARING AND TRUST. MAY YOUR RELATIONSHIP BE AS ENDURING AND STRONG AS THE GREAT SEAS WHICH SURROUNDS US TODAY……
BILL AND DEBBIE MAY THE BEST OF YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.

BILL WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A PRAYER

Then Sid (ex LA Policeman) said:

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to be speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense."

And that's when he snapped on the handcuffs! And we have been happily hitched ever since.