"To Those Who Wait" by Jane Satchell McAllister
– making the groom wait on his bride
My heart skipped as we witnessed this astronomical marvel.
Jane Satchell McAllister's writings draw inspiration from the wide variety of people and places she encounters, from her home base in Davie County, North Carolina, to rich adventures across our country and abroad. She has co-authored two Images of America books through Arcadia Publishing and served for nine years as director of the county public library. Her current writing project is compiling stories based on decades of travel, both fiction and nonfiction, almost as much fun as the trips themselves.
Author’s Talk
Jane Satchell McAllister
Decades of travel have produced innumerable surprises, mostly positive and some truly memorable. Discovering ourselves immersed in the Salisbury Cathedral once-in-a-decade flower show on our honeymoon. Finding ourselves swept up in the procession of the Corpus Christi in Toledo, Spain. Touring churches and lingering to enjoy evensongs, recitals, or concerts with sacred music echoing off of stone walls. And of course, weddings.
I never tire of the pageantry of weddings unfolding in huge European churches as they have for hundreds of years. Celebrants willingly share their special occasions with strangers. I always marvel at brides ascending or descending tall stone staircases in long dresses and high heels. Never have I witnessed any stumbling, though some ascents have taken a long stretch of time as the bride stops to catch her breath periodically.
For all the beautifully engraved meridian lines we have seen in many churches throughout Europe, we never witnessed the sunlight transecting the line until Catania. Sicily had already delivered a banquet of surprises for me, with its rich and complex history evidenced by architectural ruins and spectacular artisanship. Catania was our last stop before returning home. My expectations were low as the city is not a primary tourist destination. And then, that small orb of light appeared on the floor at our feet. We stood spellbound for the next hour, watching the light move in its path as designed almost two centuries earlier. That experience was sheer magic. Sharing this story enables me to relive a treasured moment from our many travels. I hope you enjoy it, too.—Jane Satchell McAllister.