Sin Pistola

My former wife and partner (for 29 years) was from Mexico...(Morelia, Michoacan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michoac%C3%A1n).

We were married (the first time) in a civil ceremony on a volley ball court at UC Santa Cruz, overlooking the ocean... there were nine of us in attendance, including several members of my brother’s commune. (June 1979)

We were married a second time (with her family) in a cathedral in Morelia.

The week before the wedding was filled with last minute preparations. About 40 of my family and friends were in town, so hosting such a crowd was interesting, not to mention a couple hundred of her relations and friends, but we also had to meet the priest, in order to make it “legal” from the church’s point of view.

After a long interview, translation both ways provided by my bride, the Priest wrote furiously in a very large book in very small handwriting. It was like the history of the parish, and I was fascinated by my inclusion. He had asked where I was born, where I had lived, what I did for a living, and he covered many other worthy topics. The whole process took over an hour!

Finally, the priest looked at me with great earnestness, and asked: "Sin Pistola?"

I was mildly taken aback, of course the Priest didn't know she and I had been living together for 4 years already and no, we weren't pregnant!

"Did he just ask what I think he asked?"

She nodded, and tried not to smile while suppressing her giggle.

I replied, "Si, Sin Pistola, todo libre!" (Without a pistol, everything free!)

That seemed to satisfy him. He asked me to raise my children Catholic (which, since I have none, I have done!).

After signing the paperwork, a Sister stood close by with an empty wooden dish. My wife prompted me to seal the deal with a donation, The Sister wobbled and almost dropped the tray when I dropped a twenty and a five dollar bill into her coffer!

Truly sealed the deal!

December 1979