By David Dryer
(David and Melody Dryer were married at Sausalito Presbyterian on September 9, 2006. David's grandparents were married in our church back in the 1930's. David sent me this beautiful, moving story he wrote about the experience of walking up the back stairs with me, just before the ceremony began. - Jim Burklo )
It is a walk that has been made by hundreds, nay thousands of men. Their nerves are zinging, their hearts are pounding, and their knees are shaking. Some were euphoric and some were terrified.
The walk for me begins in the old stairwell, (but for some who came before the walk began in when it was the new stairwell), with the creaking and moaning of the treads as my feet press my body weight into them. How have the creaks and moans changed over the years with the passing of time and the traversing of thousands of feet?
Each creak and moan brings the men one step closer to the most remarkable day of their lives. For some men this is a walk their fathers have made and for a few it is a walk that their grandfathers made. I was one of the few who followed in the footsteps of their grandfathers.
What was he feeling? What was he thinking? Was he euphoric or terrified? These questions and so many more race through my mind as I place my feet on each tread listening to their distinct creaking and moaning as I make my way up the old stairwell. I am also thinking of the woman whom my grandfather was walking towards: so young, so beautiful, and so full of life. That same woman now awaits me, though she is much older now, but she is still beautiful with her face lined with the passage of time and her mind starting to slip away. Does she remember the day my grandfather climbed these stairs towards their destiny?
Grandpa is physically gone now but I can still feel his spirit in the stairwell. As I finish my climb my hand smoothing out the wood of the handrail, that is already smooth from all of the other men’s hands that gripped this rail.
With one last deep breathe to calm my nerves I step into my future and my past. Everyone from my past is seated on the left, and everyone in my future is seated on the right. After today they will all be a part of my past and my future.
My walk ends at the same point that my grandfather’s walk ended. I draw from his strength as I await the love of my life while gazing upon the love of his life. With the changing of the music the maids begin their walk, a walk they make in support of the love of my life.
As the maids line up the doors close and my anticipation soars. The echoes of all the men who have come before me fade away as my attention is riveted to those doors. The doors open and my breath explodes from my chest as the love of my life comes into view. The love of my grandfather's life stands and watches as the love of my life begins her walk, a walk that will complete the circle.
Now my walk is done and the church and the 100 year old stairwell await the next hundreds, nay thousands, of men to make the walk. Will they feel the connection to all of us who have gone before? Will they hear my voice echoing with my grandfather's? Will any of them be my posterity? To all of those who follow my footsteps rejoice for this is the most remarkable day of your lives that begins with a walk up the old stairwell.