We are especially delighted that one of the most important stories of this wedding celebration is not merely the importance of encouraging every California voter to vote NO! on Proposition 8-- but to thank each and every person who supported the recognition of our union in any way as well as those who attended our wedding celebration and those who contributed to the success of our time with each and every one of you.

Thanks to our Team!

Wedding Party Members
Marc Chery, Broom Bearer
Maazi & Desta Chery, Flower Girls
Chris Erickson, Pat's Standing Witness
Diemut Heller, Maggie's Standing Witness
Isidro Ortiz, Maggie's Standing Witness
Debbie Singer, Pat's Standing Witness

Greeters & Ushers
Gloria Casillas
Bea Fernandez
Martin Moore Medicus
Jarad Sanchez
Sara Saragosa
Claudia Satriano
Nancy Schilling
Alexander Schlueten

Bartenders
Joe Farmer
Lenette Ortiz

Reception Assistants
Joni Halpern and SPIN Staff and Families

Photography by Big Mike Phillips
Thanks also to Greg Bolian and Bixi Craig for additional photography

Videography by Andy Rice and Bonnie Rooney

Wedding Attire by Delores Roberts

Arch Design & Decorations by Diemut Heller
Wedding Bouquets Design by Diemut and Miko Heller

Floral Arrangements by Berta Medicus Moore

Musical Entertainment
"Smoove Inspirations"
DJ Melorican Maria Ortiz

Processional Route Design and Decorations by Lori Saunders (assisted by Brian and Rachel)

We are grateful to Boatema Boateng for baking the bread used in the wedding ceremony. Special thanks to Chris Erickson for hosting us in his lovely garden and to Lori & KiKi Saunders for opening up their home and garden for the dinner, reception and dance. Special thanks also to Maria Ortiz for entertainment equipment and musical mastery for wedding ceremony and reception and to Joni Halpern and SPIN staff and families for assistance with food service and clean up.

Please remember to vote "No" on Proposition 8

A big thank you to YOU!!!! Thank you with all our hearts

Maggie and I seem to spend as much time as we can grab-- in the water, near the water, around the water. But, we don't actually swim in the water. Neither one of us can swim, actually. We both prefer being in big boats, the less crowded, the better. Although we rarely do either of these things, Maggie likes taking long walks on the beach while I like sitting in the water, near the edge with just enough water to maybe cover my ankles. Our fondest water times have been at the usual places- anything with water rides in the summer, but we also loved being on the beach in Costa Rica, Hawaii, and places like that. We still have snorkeling on our lists of "must do" things before we leave this earth. And, we have almost done it a couple of times. There's that little problem with the vision thing-- neither one of us can see without glasses. People keep telling us there are goggles big enough to cover our eyeglasses, but we haven't found them yet.

But, ask us sometimes. We have lots of water stories. What's really great is when Joe and Joyce (family from the East Coast) visit because Joe and Joyce really like that walking on the beach thing and that is wonderful. It's the best of both worlds for Maggie especially-- family and walking on the beach.

I first met Pat as her student at San Diego State where I took all the classes I could that she taught. She has been my teacher, my mentor, my friend and my politics of intersectionality guru. She cares enthusiastically about her students and especially the student activists. She made a point of attending our events when few other teachers did. She re-energized me when it came to my political efforts, but also frequently reminded me to study, asked about my grades and reminded me to stay on track with my goals. Maggie has also been a wonderful support. She does calm, empathetic outrage better than anyone. She is also a great voice of reason.

Pat and Maggie are as passionate for each other as they are for life, family, friends, gardening and politics. They live their politics. A USPS mail bin half-full with the latest Democratic or other political mailing is an almost permanent fixture in their living room. And with Maggie’s frequently volunteered (often by Pat) computer and layout skills, and Pat’s participation in more committees and campaigns than there are days in the week (times two or three) they are a team to be reckoned with. You can find their house by looking for the one with the most political lawn signs. Their front yard is in the style of Political–So Cal fusion landscaping. A trip to their house is not complete without a tour of their back garden where they’ll show you their latest additions.

Their home, where at least one television is always tuned to a detective drama (Law & Order, CSI, etc.) is actually an unofficial branch of the San Diego library. They own more books than anyone else I know and probably more books than everyone else I know combined. But if you ask a question or are working on a paper or problem, they will hook you up with references to check out.

They have more friends spread farther and wider than anyone I know. Of course even with her self-proclaimed shyness, Pat is able to strike up friendships with perfect strangers —often in elevators at conferences. Their friends and family are very important to them and I have always found their home to be a warm and welcoming one.

They are politically conscious, brilliant and generous people. I was thrilled to hear the news about their upcoming wedding. I am very much looking forward to sharing their special day with them and to meeting even more of their friends and family. Finally it is truly inspriring to see that after sixteen years and despite a ruthless and epic scrabble rivalry, they are still very much in love.

Congratulations Pat and Maggie!!!

We hope our wedding celebration is broader than our rededicating ourselves to each other. We hope it's a gentle, fun-filled, "teachable moment" about the value of full citizenship, equal and civil rights for all Americans. We hope it's a public statement about the importance of making sure Prop 8 is a inglorious failure. We hope our wedding celebration is another small step in unifying our families,communities, friends and allies around the importance of getting voters to the polls on Election Day who stand up for the full civil rights of LGBT families -- ours and others like us.

We are counting on you to stand up for what is fair and equitable. We are standing with you every day in every way we can.

This is what some other people had to say:

Preface: The main thing to get out of this email is embedded in the words of the great Martin Luther King Jr.: 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' We all must get up, stand up and fight for what is right.

If they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night.

- James Baldwin

Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionary's life. When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime. Angela Y. Davis

To be honest and real I can go either way with marriage. But I have taken on this struggle because no one should to be able take any person's rights. Who gives someone the right to dictate how a person is to live and love? I normally don't ask or tell a person what to do, but this is something that is crucial. To me we don't have an option on this one. The vote on Proposition 8 is very close and it can go either way. There are two very important things we must do. We must get out and vote no and we must volunteer to get this propositon shut down. If you decide that prop 8 ain't your bag; find something that is and get all up in it. One can get out there to help to get the crazy HIV/AIDS numbers down in the African American and Latino communities by joining an organization that helping to do this. One can help women and men that have been victims of domestic violence. Just find something and get down to it. We have to make our country better and not rely on the Senate, the House or that building on Pennsylvania Avenue NW where a demonic pimp lives and will continue to live. I end this email with a letter from equalityforall.com. I think they put it in clearer terms what we must done today and not tomorrow. Peace and Love to you all. Jimmy Lovett, Jr.



[This letter is being distributed all over California in one form or another. Perhaps you can send your own version or this version to people in your networks. Maggie and I did]

I am sending you, my family and friends, this letter because I know you believe that all Californians should be treated equally under the law. Our California state constitution guarantees that everyone is treated equally and everyone is able to enjoy fundamental freedoms like the freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the freedom to marry.

Today in California it is not constitutional to single out long-term, committed gay or lesbian couples and exclude them from the freedom to marry. The constitution reflects what most Californians believe: the laws, rules, protections and freedoms guaranteed to all Californians should apply equally to all Californians.

I can’t tell you how important that is to Maggie and me! It means that after years of devotion and caring for each other we are provided the freedom to marry, just like every other tax-paying, law-abiding Californian!

The first day of gay and lesbian marriages in California was an incredibly moving day for us. Our friends, who have spent a lifetime loving and being responsible for each other, finally had an opportunity to wed. We were all finally free to have our hopes and dreams recognized like every other Californian: to find someone, fall in love, develop a deep and committed relationship and to marry. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house!

But now there is a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot in November (Proposition 8) that is designed to rewrite the state constitution to specifically exclude gay and lesbian couples from the fundamental freedom to marry.

That is wrong. Our California Constitution – the law of our land – should guarantee the same freedoms and rights to everyone. No one group should be singled out to be treated differently.

Our nation was founded on the principle that all people should be treated equally. And while we may differ in important ways, we share a common humanity that unites community to community and neighbor to neighbor. Equal protection is the bedrock of American society. That's what this election is about – equality, freedom and fairness for all.

Marriage is the institution that conveys dignity and respect to the lifetime commitment of any couple. Proposition 8 would deny ____ and me that same dignity and respect.

Protect our freedom to marry, affirm our commitment to each other and secure the promise of equality for all Californians. Please Vote No on Prop 8 and talk with your friends and neighbors about why it is so important that they also Vote No on 8.

Thank you all for your help and support,

[Pat Washington & Maggie Allington]

P.S. For more information on the marriage ban, contact No on 8: Equality for All at www.equalityforall.com. Please consider making a donation to help fight this hateful amendment

P. S. S. I tried to recreate this flower cart scene in the attached photo and there's a little "something, something" for anyone who can find it on our wedding day!

This is a really short story to explain why we will not be throwing rice at our wedding. Or, how does that rice thing work? Maybe wedding guests throw rice at weddings. In any event, we strongly urge all of us to refrain from throwing rice at our wedding celebration. So, maybe this is a story that includes some great animal photos Morgan took over various summers as we explain that we do not want to see a single grain of rice (raw) at our wedding celebration. We understand that we would be jeopardizing the lives of unsuspecting birds who may ingest raw grains of rice. We haven't verified this story, but apparently, when birds eat raw grains of rice, the rice gets stuck in their craws, expands and chokes them to death.

True or not-- we opted to provide you with all the bubbles you hearts desire! Be sure to grab a bottle or two for those well-wishes or occasions when you would have thrown rice.

You're the best. Please enjoy these "Morgan photos."

Maggie's eyes are blue. I know that. I know that. But, I promise you sometimes they look green-- a nice welcoming, renewing, energizing, replenishing green. Not that blue's bad either.

But, anyway. I constantly ask her, "What color are your eyes?"-- especially when I want something that she thought she'd already said no about or there's a need to connect to something familiar between us. That question sends us into lenghty joking back and forth. Because what is Maggie's response to the question? "My eyes are brown like my baby's"

Then, to really seal it. for one of our celebrations-- anniversary or a holiday (probably Christmas), she gave me the most beautiful Brown Angel and shared a poem with me that has become one of the treasures of our household as they have been joined together in a beautiful brown display case.

Here's the poem and there's a little "something, something" for the first person who gets either one of us to tell you where we have the Angel and Poem enshrined.

Blossoms

I never dreamt
that tender blossoms
would be brown
Or precious angels
could come down
to live in the garden
of my giving heart
But here you are
brown angel.