I don’t know how the arctic spell was for you, but we got away with it relatively easily here in Harrow. Of course, TfL had its issues, but we were able to do most of what we needed to do. Otherwise, we put on an extra layer, turned up the heating and waited for it to pass.
The enforced office time gave me a chance to think about readings for ceremonies. As a civil celebrant, I very occasionally write something new. More frequently, I adapt something to fit the particular circumstances we are marking. It’s not always down to me to source my material. I am working with Jo and Jimmy currently, and I am indebted to them for this suggestion. It’s a lovely piece that was entirely new to me.
It comes from Nicole Kraus’ “The History of Love”. See what you think.
“Once upon a time, there was a boy. He lived in a village that no longer exists, in a house that no longer exists, on the edge of a field that no longer exists, where everything was discovered, and everything was possible. A stick could be a sword, a pebble could be a diamond, a tree, a castle. Once upon a time, there was a boy who lived in a house across the field from a girl who no longer exists. They made up a thousand games. She was queen and he was king. In the autumn light her hair shone like a crown. They collected the world in small handfuls, and when the sky grew dark, they parted with leaves in their hair.
“Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.”
I’ll keep it short and sweet this week. If you have a favourite reading that could work in a ceremony, I’d love you to send it to me. I’m always open to good ideas.