LOVE STORY

PHOTOS BY KEN MARSHALL

This morning I was privileged to perform a very special wedding ceremony for two sweet and charming people who are totally in love with each other, and have been for a very long time...

Harold and Dan have been in a committed, monogamous relationship for 45 years, but today they were finally able to make it legal and get married in the state of North Carolina, because of the recent changes there...

We drove up to Cherokee last evening to meet them and to get a game plan for this morning's event...we had a great time getting to know both of them, and hearing the stories of their nearly five decades together...

Dan is 80, and is suffering from stroke-induced dementia, but he absolutely knew what was going on today, and was able to answer "I do" at the appropriate time...he has a very sweet spirit, and we loved him immediately...

Ken's mom died from Alzheimer's disease a few years ago, and after meeting Harold and Dan last night, he told me that Dan watches Harold intently when he speaks in the exact same way that Ken's mom used to watch his dad before she transitioned...he was very moved by their connection to one another, which is now beyond verbal communication, but is undoubtedly genuine...

Harold is Dan's total caregiver, and is one of the most devoted men that I have ever met...Dan is the most important thing in the world to him...prior to last evening, I only knew Harold through FB, where he comes across as a funny, outspoken, (often irreverent) larger-than-life personality...but the man I met last night and spent time with today is the epitome of unconditional love...his absolute commitment to Dan, the love of his life, is nothing short of inspirational...

Today turned out to be a perfect day in every way...every part of it...I/we were blessed to be involved with the festivities...

I hope that Harold doesn't mind me going ahead and writing something about this...Ken took pics today, and put them together in this collage a little while ago, and so I decided to just go ahead and say what was on my heart...

To any person who is still opposed to marriage equality for whatever reason, I can only say that if you could spend a little time with these two gentlemen who have lived together for nearly half a century...if you could see how patient and tender Harold is with Dan, and how completely dependent on Harold Dan is...if you could witness their love in person, I think that you would change your mind...

What God has joined together let not man put asunder...

Congratulations, gentlemen...all the best to you!