Travel Log

6:00 am: I'm on an airplane and they just offered us wine or beer for $4. Who the hell buys wine or beer on an airplane at 6:20am? I'm sure it's just part of their script that they read to every flight, every day. But holy hell, it's too early to think straight, let alone start drinking. Maybe that's the point? "Head the thoughts off at the pass."

6:20 am: Apparently Southwest lets you choose your own seats. I chose one near the front of the plane near someone who looked like they kept to themselves. I just realized that I also chose a seat such that I am fully in control of TWO windows. I always used to hate it when the person in front of me would have the window shade up that let the light angle in right at me, but they'd have the next one down so they could enjoy the shade. Now I have all the power, and I'm going to use it to make it dark and try to nap.

10:45 am (Las Vegas time): I had an 8-hour layover in Reno once, so I have experienced Nevada's airports before. I don't know if you knew this, but there are slot machines in the airports. A LOT of slot machines, right next to the gates, so as soon as you get off the plane they and dinging and flashing at you. I'm not a fan of gambling, and it's still way too early for so much noise and blinkyness, but that's not the most offensive thing about it. There were people, normal or normal-looking people, who got off our flight and sat right down and started plunking coins and pulling handles. I was really hoping not to see that, all the way up the gangway I was hoping that people could restrain themselves. At least go to the bathroom first! What a weird scene. Maybe next time I'll start up a table of Find the Lady on the plane and catch those early birds before they even see the worms.

Ketubah!

Today I learned about the ketubah and I decided I want one when I get married. It's an ancient Jewish tradition that's like a pre-nup, but that promises to maintain all the good things instead of (or in addition to) promising recompense should the marriage end. It's not as weirdly fatalistic as the pre-nup. It's more that one's great marriage is a continual reward for staying married. Ketubot can be artistically rendered to reflect the aesthetics of the couple, and are hung in the house as a decoration AND reminder of the wedding vows. It sounds like a pretty great time.

This is the internet-official story.

I am compelled by the idea of the "secular humanist" ketubah, such as one using this text, but then decorating it like the one in the wikipedia article. Other cool designs I found were:

• This "tongues of flame" kind of design covered in interlocking leaves, books, and people.
  
• This fancy colorful one which reminds me of a coat-of-arms or a medieval illustrated manuscript.
  
• This attractive circular one which is notable for its unusual shape, its use of Hebrew as a language and as an element of design, and pretty watercolors.
  
• This striking one that looks packed full of symbols, notably books and birds.
  
• And perhaps coolest of all, this one that represents the bride and groom as lions presided over by an intense eagle. I also like how this one shows both the Hebrew and English translations, and has space for an appropriate wedding photo.
  

I was raised and consider myself both culturally and spiritually Christian, but I'm more into the Beatitudes kind of Christianity. Since my wedding ceremony will likely be very humanist and individual to my bride and me, I'm all for adopting any traditions from any cultures that we find symbolic or meaningful.