Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sunny white beach glimpsed through tall white gum trees, the shiny white teeth of bride and groom.

The gods smiled on our friends on Saturday - the day before had been howling rain and wind.The day itself was windy, sunny and beautiful - down on the south coast, a 3 hr drive from Sydney.

As weddings go, this was warm, honest, funny. Like the couple is, too. The crowds gathered in partial shade looking over white white sand, rocks spraying the clearest summer sea green spray, shading out to colder deep. Children in pretty clothes, summer dresses flying, a few chairs for the older ones, shaven men in crisp shirts, and bare feet everywhere.

The bride wore a Japanese floral print dress, her hair in an elegant chignon. The groom in a white shirt, sand trousers. There, that was the Woman's Day moment.

It was a gathering of the tribes: alternative activists and health practitioners, Canberra public servants, Sydney corporate types, artists galore.

The wind nearly blew the oyster shells off our plates, smashed glasses and paper lanterns, a few kangaroos looked on nonplussed as we lunched on the lawn of the finest holiday house indeed, and the jokes were predictably bad.

And then to the sea, a bracing afternoon to swim. Now I feel really clean and quiet. The Leathermanman went for a huge surf, and was joined by the groom.

The power went out before sunset, taking the water with it - water pumps. Nobody minded, candles did just as well, and the gas BBQ worked. The champagne got tepid, so we switched to red wine. The full moon rose through a cloud, a tribe had trooped to a headland to watch it come up.

A sparkling conversation about the desire for consciousness, the full 100% of the brain in use, the full holographic omniscience. What about the need for ballast, potential? A truly inspiring conversation between a doctor I know and love and a chandsome and charming former Sanyassen and meditation whizz. Wow!

Oh it's a lovely season here in Australia when that is the focus of a weekend!

And I'm sure the bride will dance on her honeymoon. Thank you friends.

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