The Registry and Generosity

Marriage unleashes generosity. People want to help, to give, to play a part. It thrills, delights, and embarrasses. As it should. We did nothing to deserve it. But we're getting used to the feeling of not being worthy and learning to say "thank you" without comment.

"Want" not "need" is the word that describes the desires of our household. If you've visited us at home, you know that after living together for five years, we need nothing to entertain guests, throw a party, or make complex entrees and desserts. In fact, we're running out of room to store the good stuff we have. We also know that we won't be able to hold back the tide of generosity. Here follow, some ideas to help you channel your good thoughts and wishes.

We have planned a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon trip to Tahiti. We would welcome best wishes in the form of activities we can do in paradise. At the bottom of the honeymoon registry, read the important notes about how Annie our Agent is taking gift registry orders.

Asterisks indicate how much we'd like to do that activity; more asterisks mean stronger preferences. But let your tastes be your guide. We'll enjoy any of the following. We'll look forward to reporting on the experience.

As we learn about items that have been purchased, we'll update this page.

Honeymoon Gift Registry

	Price/ person	Number requested	Number Remaining
* Gift certificate	Any amount	Any number	N.A.
Sunset catamaran cruise on Moorea	$96	2	0
* Safari excursion by 4x4	$90	2	0
Polynesian dinner and show at Tiki Village	$105	2	2
** Shark feeding and swim with the dolphins	$95	2	0
* Le Bateau restaurant dinner and dancing to live music	$105	2	2
Private candlelight, champagne dinner on the beach	$185	2	2
* Full-day tour of Bora Bora, including picnic lunch on the beach and swim with sting rays	$195	2	2
Dinner at Bloody Mary’s	$ 125	2	2
** Private sailboat cruise to a secluded Motu including lunch and snorkeling	$132	2	2
Sunset champagne cruise followed by dinner and show at a popular native restaurant.	$195	2	2
Polynesian Spa at Bora Bora Lagoon 25 min. couples massage, or 50 min. couples massage	$90 $175	2 2	2 2
25 min. helicopter ride	$95	2	2
Surfing lesson on Moorea	$105	1	1
Jet ski rental	$130	1 or 2	1
**Parasailing	$125	2	2

Honeymoon Registry Recommendations

Use the form above: We can send you a copy by email, or you can print this page and mark it with the gift you've chosen for us.

Send by fax or email to Annie to earmark the gift. Now, I know not many people use fax any more, but if you're one, fax to Annie DellaPenna at 617-426-0617. Or, email to annie at tourainetravel.com.

Pay by check. Because credit card charges carry a 4 percent transaction fee that reduces the amount of the gift, we recommend you pay by check. There's plenty of lead time and Annie the Agent is happy to earmark a gift as yours and wait for the check to arrive.

Make check payable to: Touraine Travel
Mark memo field: Roberts/Danielson honeymoon

Mail to:
Ms. Annie DellaPenna
Touraine Travel
41 Winter Street
Boston MA 02108

And if you want advice or help, call Annie at 617-426-4418 or toll free 800-967-5583.

Williams Sonoma Registry

Click the title above to go to the registry web site. We found a few items here. Where else did you think we'd find them?


Crate and Barrel

Yes, here. That's where else you'd expect us to have found what we're looking for.

CB2

CB2, which recently opened a New York City store, is Crate's little, cooler, sometimes less expensive little sister. And we're registered there, too.


Bed, Bath, and Beyond Registry

Also, registered here. It's the law.



At Smith + Noble, we would really like two shades for the bedroom. Boy, have we been giving the neighbors a show! I searched the site to find out how to give gift certificates, on one hand, or alternatively, to start a registry. No such luck. You might call the place and see if they have other, better information.

Target Club Wedd

We even found some great things here.



Yes, we even added a registry at Target because our microwave started "arcing," which looks like a lightening storm taking place over our leftovers. There's just the one item: microwave. Nice to have, not need to have.

Planned Parenthood

Two nights ago, I suggested to TWIL that we ask people to give to this organization, too. She was thrilled: "I've been thinking exactly the same thing." We feel the Supreme Court's decision about so-called partial birth abortion has a number of serious flaws embedded in it.

Here's what we're suggesting, and we do mean suggesting. Follow your conscience. Give $10 to Planned Parenthood along with your wedding gift and say you gave it in our names. If everyone does so, we'll raise about $1,000. So that we have some "skin in the game," we'll match every donation at 25 percent. Your $100 is really $125. because we'll kick in the rest. Here's why.

First, there is the matter of protecting citizens. The ruling provides no clause that allows the use of the procedure when the mother's life is in danger. This means the Court ruled that in the rare cases when birth means harm or death to a mother, doctors must work to save the fetus. To my eyes, that is to prefer one American and his or her rights over another. Those are not equal rights.

Second, the court cited medical and scientific uncertainty about the need for the procedure, and asserted that state and federal legislatures "have wide discretion in to pass legislation" in such circumstances, in the words of opinion author Anthony Kennedy. Uncertainty of fact, it appears, frees legislatures to make laws on other grounds. Not facts. But it seems to me that the rule of law must be based on objective facts. Without them, on what will we be governed?

The effect of the ruling is to open a door to state legislation that seeks other ways to limit a woman's right to choose on grounds other than science. For my nieces especially, but for all women, I worry when the highest court starts taking rights away, and gives legislatures the right to take up the effort where the justices left off.