Our daughter got hitched—and we missed it!
Libby and Daniel got married almost four weeks ago in Sydney Australia. Poor John and I were in India at the time. In fact, we still are.
So how do parents miss their own daughter’s wedding?
Two things for the record.
They didn’t elope, and we aren’t in the midst of some family feud.
So here’s how it unfolded. About nine days before we were leaving for India and Bhutan (an 84-day trip that had been planned for many months), I called Libby from Moruya on Australia’s South Coast.
Hey hon, there’s a great sterling silver cutlery set for six here at the market. The price is right, shall I buy it for you and Daniel?
Thanks mum, but no. We’ll probably be moving and I’d prefer to travel light.
Hmm, moving? Could we have this ‘moving’ conversation now?
About three years ago, Libby and Daniel made the much loved Prinzregententorte for my cooking blog. Around that same time, they moved to Sydney. But recently they’ve been feeling ready for a change. Turns out that on the morning I called about the cutlery and after months of waiting and trying not to think about applications, Daniel was offered jobs in Melbourne and Paris, Yeah, the Paris in France.
He was going to take a few days to weigh up the offers and decide what to do. In the meantime, I wasn’t to buy anything. So I got off the phone and bought the cutlery. Good grief, I figured someone would need it.
Of course, he chose the job in France. We are thrilled for them. What a wonderful opportunity and adventure for a young couple.
Then a day or two before we went to Sydney to fly to India, Libby called to say there was a hitch in the new employer’s terms and conditions. For them to be entitled to all the allowances and considerations, they would have to get hitched.
Great, I said. We’ll be there Thursday and you can get married Friday.
Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple in Australia any more. Prospective couples must register their intention to marry, and then wait a month before going through with it.
So instead of going to the registry on Friday to see them marry, we went to see them register. And that night we took them out for a crash-hot ‘rehearsal’ dinner at the Almond Bar, a well-loved Syrian restaurant. Very appropriate because Libby was born in Damascus.
Given that we were going to miss the wedding, I did make one request at the registry. They registered on 23 January and would be eligible to marry on Monday, 23 February.
Can I make a suggestion hon?
Sure, she said.
Thirty-five years ago, your dad and I got married on a Tuesday. I reckon Tuesday is a good day to do anything so why not wait one more day.
So they did. But they kept it simple. While they intended to be together forever, they never planned to marry. Their simple ceremony was on Tuesday 24 February at the registry office with Libby’s sister and Daniel’s mum as witnesses.
In order not to disappoint their many well-wishers, Libby and Daniel organised a Saturday party at the Waverley Bowling Club near where they live. Ahem, we missed that too.
Now they are off to France before we get home. Their departure date is quite suitably 24 March—another Tuesday. And we’ll be going to visit them later this year—most likely on a Tuesday.
Oh, and what were we doing on the day Libby and Daniel got married? We were in Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. To make that adventure worthwhile we saw a tiger in the distance. On the day of their party we saw two tigers in Pench National Park. I could have reached out and patted one if I hadn’t cared about losing my arm. More about them soon.
A few words about us getting hitched
Poor John and I eloped. We hadn’t really planned to do that, but we were in the Middle East and it seemed a huge fuss to go back to the USA and arrange a wedding.
It’s a long story that I’ll tell another time. But enough to say we got married on a Tuesday in Ajlun in Jordan.
P.S. Libby says she’s not ready to share photos from her most special Tuesday. So the pics here are from other times. And I can’t share any from our elopement, because none were taken. Oh, and the cutlery is still sitting on my dining room table.
Congrats to the happy couple!
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Thanks Mike. I’ll pass on your good wishes.
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Wow. What a couple of surprises. Tell them congratulations for us!!
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Will do Jean, and I think you have a wedding coming too. So congratulations to you and yours too.
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Now, that’s a great story. I hope they enjoy France. I did 40 years ago.
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I’m sure they will. I took Libby to France 15 years ago. She loved it them.
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Wow! Not sure how I would have coped with such a dilemma. Though from my slight acquaintance from this blog she does sound like her mother’s daughter.
I am most admiring of of all 4 of you.
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Thanks and yes, this sort of behaviour is genetic. Her sister posted last night on Facebook that she had been making a cake for work. Seems the colleagues were a little grumpy and a cake might help. She ran out of icing sugar and went to the supermarket—a huge supermarket. Once there, she realised she was still wearing her apron.
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what a wonderful story. Thanks peggy. Congratulations to the kids.
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Thanks Jenny.
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What a great story! Congratulations to Libby & Daniel. I’m sure she will adore living in Paris.
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Maybe we could all visit her there. And take the cutlery! 🙂
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Hi Peggy, thank you for sharing the stories of your life. Simply, they are just wonderful, everyone of them. Enjoy your everlasting travel journeys and keep writing. Love to catch up with you and Poor John over lunch/coffee at my place when you’re back.
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That would be wonderful Anh. Thanks so much.
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Hi Peggy! Lovely story.
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Thanks so much.
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I have enjoyed this so much. Can’t be there but the next best thing. Had problems on my end posting at 1st but have not missed one.
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I really appreciate you stopping by. Glad you are enjoying it.
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G’day Peggy and congrats to Libby and Daniel! May they have a long and healthy life and yes is one of the difficulties of traveling as can’t be in two place at one time! Maybe one day they will have the transporter technology! 🙂 Cheers! Joanne
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Ah yes, transport technology would have got us there. Cheers to you and George too.
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Hello LeggyPeggy,
One interesting blog post after another…. And this one is no exception . Congratulations on Libby and Daniel’s surprise marriage… and hope they have a good life style in Paris. And wow, you and Poor John eloped…. ! Plus Tuesday is a magic day for all. And you have seen several Tigers on this trip to India. I look forward to hearing more about Libby, Daniel, Poor John and you…. And hopefully we will see some nice photos of Tigers in your upcoming blogs.
Sy S.
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Thanks Sy. The tigers are coming soon. Wish internet connections were more reliable here.
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Congratulations to Libby and Daniel, “the next victim” as Zula would have said. And tell them it’s so much easier to get to Paris than Australia. We’ll be there on October (appropriately on a layover on our way to India) and would love to see them and meet Daniel. I am enjoying your blog about India. The people I see here are telling me how awful it is and that we’re crazy for going there. Obviously, no spirit of adventure! My Indian friends, on the other hand, are overwhelming me with things we MUST do. Have you met our Indian cousins? And should I congratulate “Poor John” on not having to pay for a wedding? Take care and happy travels. Agnes
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‘The next victim’ oh that is too funny! Zula was a classic.
Thanks for following the blog and for the good wishes for Libby and Daniel. I’ll see what can be worked out for October. Will also send you some info about India. You are not crazy to want to come!
And yes, Poor John is feeling pretty lucky about missing the wedding bullet. Guess he isn’t so ‘poor’ after all.
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What a great story! So happy for Libby and Daniel!
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Thanks Wanda. Now we need to get them back for a family reunion.
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Congratulations to Libby and Daniel, and what a wonderful opportunity for them. Perhaps we will get to see you and John when you visit them? x
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I have a 26 year old Dd. It is something to be traveling in India & she gets married. Then again I understand the choice. Paris in the Spring how much more wonderful could it be. I wish them all the best!
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Well put. We understand the choice too, which is why we can deal with it.
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We’ll work on that.
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Congratulations to Libby and Daniel. The ceremony isn’t important but grandchildren are blessings so make your Mum and Dad proud!
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Don’t go there with the grandchildren question! I sure won’t, but my fingers are crossed. 🙂
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Give our best to Libby and Daniel. Wishing them years and years of happiness.
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And don’t forget that you taught her to drive a stick shift. And me too.
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When Dd got her license at 16 years old. I purchased her a stick shift 4 wheel drive used. I figured if they saw her coming they could run. I think that everyone during an emergency should know how to use a stick shift.
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You are 100 per cent right. Knowing how to drive a stick shift changes everything—in your favour.
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Sounds like they’re off to a great start.
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Thanks. I think so too.
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You missed the wedding and I missed this post in my inbox. Don’t know about the wedding but this post is terrific – so well written, I enjoyed it even without cake and champagne.
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Thanks so very much. As you might imagine, it took some time to write.
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From one blogger to another – YES, I do imagine how long it took to write and edit and edit and edit!!
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Oh yeah, you know!
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Hi Peggy, what a great news to read. And I am still enjoying what’s cooking on page 32. Do you have an e-mail adress or link where I can leave you my contact details. I now live close from Paris and I would be happy to help Libby and Daniel in every way while they are settling down. I hope that you are still enjoying your travels, Caroline from Khiva
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Oh Caroline, it is so great to hear from you. Thanks so much for your kind offer in relation to Libby and Daniel. Your email address comes through in the background when you leave a comment here, so I will write to you privately and send Libby’s details.
We’re still in India and Bhutan until the middle of April and having a wonderful time.
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Hi Peggy,
That’s wonderful news about Libby and Daniel. As everyone else has said, you’ve told the story beautifully too. I think I only have a work email for Libby; otherwise I’d send her and Daniel a personal congratulations. And Paris! What can I possibly say without using all the superlatives in the world? I especially like the anecdote about Petra too. Congratulations all round!!
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They are already loving Paris. We’re so thrilled for them. I’ll pass on your good wishes.
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Congratulations to your family!
I’m not a proponent of marriage, thought I’d never get married, however after 11yrs. With my man, I caved. 😉
I didn’t have a large wedding either. Ran off to St. Thomas. I feel it should be a small quick thing at first. Then if you’re still together at your 5 year anniversary, then blow the $$ for the ceremony. So many folks I know couldn’t make it that far after $20,000 weddings. ..
I wish your daughter and new son the best!!
And if that cutlery is still unwanted, send it my way.. hahaha!
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I still reel at the thought of what people spend on weddings! So impractical, so wasteful! Friends of ours married after 12 or 15 years because their kids asked them to. haha
No idea what’s up with the cutlery now. Maybe the dog got it.
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What an interesting story on how you and your daughter got married and your long trip too. You are lucky to have the health and wealth to travel.
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We are very lucky indeed.
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Hey, Leggy Peggy and Poor John: How wonderful, after years of “girls only” you have a son and knowing Libby, he’s got to be a “keeper”. Love and warmest wishes for a wonderful life in Paris or wherever, Paris is one of my favorite places too. Your blogs are so wonderful, we get to see so many places most of us will never get to see. I think back to the :reception” here in NE with wonderful memories of our times together. Love you both, stay safe!
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Daniel is definitely a keeper and we feel blessed to have him as part of our family. Like you I have wonderful memories of our ‘reception’ in Kearney. I promise to get around to posting about our own marriage in Jordan.
Thanks for following along on the blog. Love the company and love to you.
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Congratulations!!
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Thanks so much.
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I’ve always liked Tuesdays. 🙂 Congrats to the young couple. What an awesome job experience in France! Very exciting for them.
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We’re so thrilled for them and look forward to visiting later this year.
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Such a nice post Peggy; I enjoyed reading..I would love to hear your wedding story. And do you still have the cutlery?!?
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So glad you stopped by and commented. I promise to tell my wedding story soon. And yes, I still have the cutlery! 🙂
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