I got married (sort of)

She said "I do."

And in those three seconds, we were it: a married couple.  Technically, not really since there were no witnesses or official to preside over the ceremony.  But then again, there were rings on our fingers.

I had proposed over email, before she joined me in Turkey. "Hey, whadda ya think about us gettin' some rings?"

She said, "Sure, why not?"

It's romantic, actually – perfect for a wide angle shot in a movie.  We stood outside a jewelery store, under a sky that was be-speckled with foaming clouds and streaks of sun [pan out] in the middle of a square [further out] in a Turkish provincial capital surrounded by a fountain, men with dominoes, the flutterings of birds, and red-tiled Ottoman homes with wide verandas and cascading floral arrangements. Oh, and falling leaves and ice cream shops.  And puppy dogs and baby kittens.  Ok, I'm kidding on the last part about puppies and kittens (cause the cats here are ferocious and I think all the dogs are homosexual and besides, there weren't any).

And I said, "Cool. So we're married?"

And that's when she said "I do". 

I know.  Doesn't make sense, but that's how it happened.

Sure, the rings may only be $30 apiece – I'm a cheap one.. you shoulda seen how hard I tried to bargain down the price – and there were no white dresses or black tuxedoes or even the requisite "put the ring on her finger you may now kiss the bride tuh - tuh.. duh da DA DA.. [cue the music]" stuff but...

Ok. So it wasn't a real marriage.  And we only got the rings so we can hide under the pretense of husband and wife when traveling through conservative areas of the Middle East.  You know, booking hotel rooms and all that avoiding stare-downs stuff. Still don't know which hand to put the damn thing on – and it makes me feel a little queasy... and I find myself twisting it round and round uncontrollably at times.. but so what?

I'll write about the honeymoon soon – we're holed up in this delightful town right next to the beach and nestled between mountains.  You get ambitious sunsets trying to outdo the last one – they dip between pine trees and palm fronds on a black sand beach and strut all their mangoes-oranges-apples-plums stuff. Amazing. But later. I still haven't gotten to: Troy, the Ionian landscape, Ephesus (and the house of Mary (the big Jew know who's mother) and the tomb of the Apostle John trampled over by over-eager Bible beating tourists) – and all that.

Since I'm on the honeymoon right now – I have all this time to write!