Super Storm Brides- Stay Calm and Jersey Strong.

Super Storm Sandy Weddings


On this Anniversary of the morning after  Super Storm Sandy…
I wondered why I didn’t write a more formal blog.
And then I remembered the cold exhaustion of a year ago.

The Friday before – storm clouds arrived as we photographed on the Asbury Park boardwalk,
And then the Channel Club’s dock.
At midnight we pulled from the parking lot -
Yachts towered above our car.  And we wondered.
I went home and did laundry and wondered and prayed
On Monday night the water surged passed our home, but not into our home….
Bringing fishing pier windows and poles.
And a wind-howl that cannot be described.
And the roof held-
And then the dawn arrived, and our walk was punctuated by only silence and sirens.
And our new reality.

My three storm brides and their grooms behaved brilliantly.
They kept their eyes on what was really important.
Each other, family, friends, faith.
One venue destroyed.
One without power.
The DJ lost most and the rest burned.
Everyone stayed calm and Jersey strong.

All three weddings in the following four, six, and then ten days later were decorated with style. The kind of style that never goes out of season. They were happy and in love.
I found a warm office and a friendly employee. I  powered my batteries in the local hospital.  It was the only place that I knew had the power on.
New venues, new flowers, new generators... cold dark churches warmed by friends and candlelight.
In the hotel lobby were the displaced.  Families, who had lost everything but what they had in plastic bags. They had to leave the hotel rooms for the guests who had reservations.
They had no place to go.  And they were stunned. They quietly wished the bride and groom well.
Later they were invited to eat at the cocktail buffet after the guests left.
Snowstorm for the last wedding added a little more drama.
On this Anniversary of the morning after Storm Sandy…
I wondered why I didn’t write a more formal blog.
And then I remembered the cold exhaustion of a year ago.
The Friday before – storm clouds arrived as we photographed on the Asbury Park boardwalk,
And then the Channel Club’s dock.
At midnight we pulled from the parking lot
Yachts towered above our car.  And we wondered.
I went home and did laundry and wondered and prayed
On Monday night the water surged passed our home, but not into our home….
Bringing fishing pier windows and fishing poles.
And a howling that cannot be described.
And the roof held
And then the dawn arrived, and our walk was punctuated by only silence and sirens.
And our new reality.

My three storm brides and their grooms behaved brilliantly.
They kept their eyes on what was really important.
Each other, family, friends, faith.
One venue destroyed.
One without power.
The DJ lost most and the rest burned.
Everyone stayed calm and Jersey strong.
All three weddings in the following four, six, and then ten days later were decorated with style. The kind of style that never goes out of season. They were happy and in love.
I found a warm office and a friendly employee. I  powered my batteries in the local hospital.  It was the only place that I knew had the power on.
New venues, new flowers, new generators... cold dark churches warmed by friends and candlelight.
In the hotel lobby were the displaced.  Families, who had lost everything but what they had in plastic bags. They had to leave the hotel rooms for the guests who had reservations.
They had no place to go.  And they were stunned. They quietly wished the bride and groom well.
Later they were invited to eat at the cocktail buffet after the guests left.
Snowstorm for the last wedding added a little more drama.
Without traffic lights, we drove to and home from weddings.
One year ago...
One year ago..