COMMITMENT CEREMONY

It’s been almost three months after my proposal, and in 15 days, we are going to push through with the commitment ceremony scheduled by the end of the month.  These past few days have been a flurry of activities but with the help of my friends, planning for the wedding has been so much fun…….so far.

Groups have strategically been formed based on their “fields of expertise”.  So my HS friends have been assigned to direct the flow of the activities from the cocktails to the commitment ceremony, all the way to the dinner reception.  Another group of friends are responsible for the food, while another group volunteered to take over the set-up and design of the venue. I had to meet up with these three groups on different occasions since they do not know each other.  But the fun part is that at the end of it all, it’s going to be one big labor of love……and one big Kuya Germs Production number.  :-)

Invitations have already been sent out, and accommodations have been arranged since this is going to be an out of town “beach wedding”.  Menu has been set, and the cocktails to be served have been lined up.  Guests have been informed of what to wear.  Me and my partner have also agreed to start exercising and to go on a diet to prepare for the big day.

But through all this overwhelming activities, at quiet moments, I still think and ponder sometimes, why am I/we doing this in the first place? What is it that I am trying to prove?  This isn’t even legal!  So why am I committing myself to someone for the rest of my life……

Cliché and corny as it may seem, the answer is because of LOVE.

It isn’t the even the kind of new love where two NEW lovers feel for each other at the start of any relationship, where everything is bright and sunny, where sex is phenomenal, and everything the other person does is cute and adorable. What I and my partner have is a love tested through time, through nine years of ups and downs, through fights, betrayals, and mistakes. Through persistence, patience and a lot of understanding wherein we stood by each other and supported each other through all this time. 

It’s the kind of love where sitting through a silent dinner together is not uncomfortable, but loud and noisy sex is the norm.  Where house expenses are properly divided, but assigned cleaning duties are avoided or passed on to the other.  Its where showering at night before going to bed is important but ironically allowing our stinky dogs to sleep beside us is acceptable.  It’s the kind of love where good morning greeting and hug is a must, but cuddling on a hot summer night is a definite no-no.  .

But more than anything, more than what the ceremony represents, more than what we want to share with our friends on that day, what is important is that we agree to commit, to continually love, support and honor each other for the rest of our lives.  And that needs continuous work for both of us and continued support from our family and friends.  In the end we can say we did it for LOVE….