It’s out on Kindle now!!
After some technical issues, I finally got my book up on Kindle yesterday. Below is an excerpt from the chapter “Tying the Knot,” an Indian custom. Our family recently watched the Indian movie, Bride and Prejudice, a modern movie based on the Jane Austin novel Pride and Prejudice. The movie portrays the amazing bonding that occurs between an Indian bride and her bridesmaids. The accompanying photo of Pratty (Joel’s new wife) and her bridesmaid reflects that bonding.
Excerpt from Detour! by Dottie Childers Gravely…
The wedding was a beautiful affair. The men were handsome; the ladies were gorgeous. Pratty’s bridesmaids wore stunning blue saris and looked very feminine. Pratty chose to wear a traditional, white American wedding gown. Her parents seemed very happy and did fine with all the American ceremony, which involved dad escorting the bride and mom being escorted down the center aisle. Pratty’s family was very close. Unfortunately, they had to return to New Jersey and India after the wedding.
The music was wonderful. The audience sang “And Can It Be” by Charles Wesley, led by David Lanning. Joel had hired an excellent pianist and cellist for the occasion. Cousin Margaret and David sang a duet of “Wonderful, Merciful Savior” by Selah with beautiful harmony as David accompanied them on the piano. He is a worship pastor in Minnesota.
Then we were ready for the ceremony, the charge, and the vows. A church filled with friends and relatives were witnesses with the Lord for those solemn moments. It was the summation of many years of prayer by several people. One unique part of the ceremony was the inclusion of the Indian custom of actually tying a knot in a special necklace worn around the bride’s neck, probably where the term originated. In India a couple is not officially married until the knot is tied. I was very, very grateful that my life was spared to behold the scene before me and then to hear, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Gravely exited the sanctuary and everyone followed to the lower floor to partake of the delicious meal catered by an Indian restaurant. The head table was placed on an elevated stage, and elevated to centerpiece on the head table was a cast iron holder for the framed photo I had presented to Joel a few days earlier, the one that had lain under his guest bed in our home for quite some time. I don’t think the decorators, Sharon and Margaret, knew the story behind it, but it made a perfect centerpiece, along with a bouquet in the wedding colors of blue and orange….