reading reading reading

This weekend I took an Amtrak train to visit Jesse in the Wisconsin Dells. It was actually a really relaxing and fun way to travel. But the best part: 3.5 hours to do absolutely nothing but read. When we first started the ABC course, I was mostly reading it at work. I had literally no "work" to do at "work," so I just read and that's how I got through the first (and so far hardest) section. But I can't do that at my new job because, you know...I work. So anyway, the point of this story is that I haven't been devoting a lot of my time to the course lately. And those test questions are HARD. If I spread the reading out too much, I really struggle through the test at the end.
As Carolyn mentioned, we've been powering through and making some serious progress. But because so much hinges on us finishing the ABC course, we keep finding ourselves talking in circles - everything leads back to getting it done. So this has given me even more motivation to get through it. Point of the story - I read a lot on the train this weekend.
In the Wedding Day section, we're learning about the basics of putting together a wedding (obvs) but we're also learning about different cultures. So far I've read all about Jewish, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Sikh and Muslim wedding traditions. I took World Religions in high school, but it's been interesting to learn more about how different cultures celebrate love, as well as how they view marriage.

Here's a tidbit: "In a traditional Jewish ceremony, a wine glass is wrapped in a napkin and the groom breaks it with his foot. There are many interpretations of this symbolic gesture but, the most common symbolizes the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and is a reminder that, even in the midst of happiness, life is not always serene."

I've always wondered why they did that. Not the most uplifting note to end on though, so...

"The Sikh (Hindu) ceremony's high point is when the couple is bound together with a sash and led around the alter five times, to signify their vows to walk together through life."

That's better. And it seems like something non-religious couples could incorporate into their ceremonies as well...just to spice things up.

amy