NEWORLEANSBRIDALEVENT.COM June 22, 2019 | New Orleans BRIDAL REGISTRY CLARION HERALD | Page 3 Love story reflected in marble of Notre Dame Cathedral By Robert S. Brantley thought that if it was 20 years, where I had done everything of the hills. We worked for Contributing writer then it would be the fnest 20 right – except for having to fve days picking and flling any couple had ever lived. It borrow a pair of socks from hundreds of baskets with As everyone bustled about was to be so. my brother, who would never grapes. We agreed that if the house preparing Christ- So much of that lay in the let me forget it. God lived on the earth, he mas dinner, I stood at the future. She came up and put The trip and the weath- would live in Alsace and window looking out on the her arms around me, and I felt er were perfect; whether it have vineyards. It seemed to lawn and at the occasional that complete sense of peace I stormed or the skies were personify perfection. passing car. always felt when she touched blue, it did not matter. We On the drive to Paris, I It had been a perfect me. could be with each other stopped at Rheims to show morning – my brother and “How would you like to go through it all. her the cathedral. I had been his wife had arrived in time to Europe on our wedding In Alsace, it was harvest to France before and had sat for opening the presents trip?” I asked her. time and the family had large in the back seat of a car that and for the “something” else Photo | COURTESY ROBERT BRANTLEY She told me that anywhere vineyards that needed pick- drove past the ancient city that no one expected except Robert Brantley and his late wife Jan was fne, as long as we were ing. They were on the side at over 100 miles per hour. I my mother and me. (above) had 21 years of joyful mar- together. of the Vosges Mountains, so had begged for them to stop The day before, we had ried life together. Robert said the cou- I told her I had something everything was done by hand. but to no avail. gone to the bank and col- ple’s wedding and honeymoon, both to show her in Paris. I told Machinery could handle the I thought about that when lected the ring from the in France, have a timeless quality. her few tourists ever see it, fats but not the steep inclines See NOTRE DAME page 4 ➤ safety deposit box that had Somewhere, in all of it, we and even if they knew it was been put there nine years found love. there, they might not realize earlier, awaiting such a day We realized that what was the extent of its meaning, if as this one. between us was written about that could ever be known. That tiny box was the in fairy tales, but few accepted I looked into her eyes and last present, set high in the or believed in its possibility. told her that the hidden branches of the tree. It was Later, someone would ask spot was “in the ambula- for her, the one I had waited her in a television interview tory behind the altar in Notre for a lifetime to come. She if she had been afraid during Dame,” and I wanted her to was a part of my soul. the cancer treatments. Her fnd it and see it for herself. I had never thought love answer was simple: “No, I was I could not explain why, but could be so easy, so effortless too busy falling in love.” I knew when she went there as I watched nervously as Her prognosis was terrible. she would know the meaning. she slowly unwrapped the The doctors gave her three The 10 months that led up present. As she tore away to five years, but we knew to our wedding and the trip each piece of paper, I felt my that the love we had would were magical in the surprises heart quicken and pound stretch that time and keep they brought. Her distant with a ferocity I had never stretching it. Just a few weeks cousins in Alsace had invited felt. before, she had been talking us to visit for a week or lon- She opened the small to a friend and said that she ger, and a friend in Germany envelope hidden inside would be happy if she could asked us to visit his house. It and took out the ring. Her live another 20 years. When I all fell so wonderfully into eyes flled with tears, and heard her say that, I knew that place. my heart felt that it might the clock had begun. Our wedding day in Octo- explode. She smiled and I had no idea how I knew ber was one I look back upon handed me the ring. In my there was nothing to stop it. I as the only day in my life anxiety, I had forgotten to The ask her. I put the ring on her COLUMNS fnger. Defining Southern A few minutes later, she Charm and Hospitality looked at me and said, HOTEL “Aren’t you going to ask me?” Celebrate your special moment I couldn’t help but laugh at the Historic Columns Hotel with at myself as she said yes. I thought about the previ- a uniquely New Orleans experience ous year and all the changes For More Information that had overtaken us. We Contact Bridal Showers • Rehearsal Dinners had gone from best friends Catered Weddings & Receptions to engaged in 51 weeks. Departure Brunches, etc., etc., etc. During that time, I had been with her through two Mrs. Dede Dardis diffcult surgeries, chemo- Wedding 3811 St. Charles Avenue Coordinator therapy and more medi- New Orleans, LA 70115 cal appointments than we wanted to count. 504-488-3578 504-899-9308 • www.thecolumns.com Page 4 | CLARION HERALD BRIDAL REGISTRY June 22, 2019 | New Orleans Allowing God to work through us requires mindfulness ometimes newlyweds never met nor seen in action. “Blessed are you when they would just give away their must look beyond each It’s important to be able to insult you and persecute you time, talent, or treasures other and their own see him acting through oth- and utter every kind of evil without getting something S Deacon W. Gerard little worlds and see the ers so that we can learn to do against you (falsely) because back in return. bigger picture. They have so GAUTRAU likewise. of me. Rejoice and be glad, The secret to getting past much to offer in the name GUEST COLUMN The next step is to recognize for your reward will be great their unfattering actions or of our Lord. They’ve taken the charisms or gifts that we in heaven” Mt 5:11-12. comments is to do some- the frst step in committing must share with others. What We might wonder, “If I’m thing nice for them. We’ll are the ways that God has doing such good, why would I either win them over to our to get each other to heaven answer our prayers through touched us, creating talents have to worry about someone (God’s) side or we’ll drive by getting married in the others, because they have said that we can use for the beneft scorning me?” The answer them crazy trying to fgure Church. Now it’s time to ‘Yes’ to him?” of others? is that some people are just out what we’re up to. step up and devote them- All these people have one The next step is commit- jealous. They may accuse us Remember, that all the selves to making the world thing in common. They have ment. A commitment which of doing these things for rec- good that we do is meant to a better place by touching God in their heart, and God is must be ignorant of the scorn ognition or because we have bring glory to God through the lives of others. It’s a love. They have taken it upon or persecution we may endure hidden motives. They haven’t imitating Christ. responsibility we all share, themselves to share that love from others. recognized the love of God Deacon W. Gerard Gautrau married and non-married by being a refection of God’s Christ gives us consolation in their own lives and hence is a permanent deacon at Sa- alike. So how do we all start love for us. They do it unself- in those times when he says, can’t imagine why someone cred Heart of Jesus, Norco. down this road? ishly without expectation of It begins with the correct gain or praise. mindset. Do we ever consid- So, how can we allow God her to the Louvre, D’Orsay I would know pride in er that God works through to work through us? Do we NOTRE DAME and numerous churches and her many times during our us in providing for the needs time together, but none ever have to receive a special call- ➤ From PAGE 3 places we had read about off of his people? This includes, ing? No, all we must do is the beaten path. equaled that moment. I had but is not limited to, their what others have done and I helped her out of the car and Finally, on the third day, we fallen in love with her, and physical, spiritual, psycho- that is to respond favorably to walked toward the church.