“The breaking of the glass”

The sound of glass breaking at Asilomar Beach on Sunday was blissful. No, it was not some clumsy tourist stepping on his glass of Chateau Julien Merlot. It was an official sound of Jon and Brandy getting married.

According to The Knot the “breaking of the glass” is the official sound of Jewish Weddings. Having been witness to my first Jewish wedding this weekend I can agree.

Two longtime friends, who also worked with me at the Monterey County Herald, tied the knot this weekend at Asilomar Beach. It was a beautiful wedding at a beach they both loved exploring. The couple has since moved to Southern California, but their romance began and blossomed in Monterey County where they met in the newsroom.

We were young reporters at the time with sparkles in our eyes for changing the world one or two stories at a time. We stayed out late after our evening meetings complaining about our editors or our sources. We also gripped about the difficulty we encountered finding and dating smart, good-looking and fun people in the area. Maybe I’m just projecting?

It was hard to socialize in an area that was known for its tourism, its agriculture and its old people. I’m not ashamed to admit it. But on the upside it had beautiful hiking and biking trails. The sunsets were amazing if the fog did not roll in. And the co-workers were very exceptional.

Anyhow, back to the wedding festivities. I witnessed the Ketubah signing which The Knot refers to as the Jewish Wedding contract. And at the ceremony I saw the Huppah and the Circling. And the best part was witnessing the Hora or “Hava Nagila” where the bride and groom are hoisted on chairs as we dance below them.

A friend of mine joked that I should earn credit toward my pastoral ministry degree for attending and participating in the wedding. I read a poem written by Pablo Neruda during the ceremony.

Eh, if my advisors go for it then so would I. Having completed my sacraments requirement toward my degree, I appreciated the words exchanged at the ceremony.I enjoyed the rituals and saw the meaning in what the couple had chosen. I could expound on the spirituality and the bodiliness in the Ketubah.

Regardless of my wistful comments, it was a good time with old friends. I’m certainly glad I could fly back to California to witness a unifying of great friends whose relationship was built on laughter, check mates and love.