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Part Two: The Braverman Family 87 On January 25, Iosif and Lyubov went to the wedding registrar's office to do battle with the Russian bureaucracy. To make the ceremony legal, they had to register the marriage. It was about 10 a.m., and according to Russian custom many iends met them there to continue the celebration. People had brought cameras, champagne, and flowers. The couple filled out an application for a marriage certificate and presented it to the clerk. She said, "Okay, in three weeks come back and it will be ready." "Wait a minute," Iosif said. "Three weeks? I can't wait three weeks. In two days I need to report to my base in Volsk." "That's too bad," the clerk said. "But there is a waiting period. That's the law." And she looked pointedly at Lyubov. "Maybe you will change your mind," she suggested. And then she turned her gaze to Iosif. "Maybe you will change your mind." "Never!" Iosif shouted. "I will never change my mind." The clerk turned her back on them. Desperate, Iosif tried to appeal to the clerk's sense of patriotism. Iosif was in a business suit, so she didn't know he was an officer. He showed the clerk his vacation certificate. But she still wouldn't help them. Finally Iosif asked to speak with the clerk's supervisor. The supervisor was a very nice woman and aer Iosif explained the situation, she agreed to make an exception. "Do you have the wedding rings?" the supervisor asked. Iosif produced the rings. She turned to Iosif. "Do you love Lyubov?" "Yes." "Will you change your mind?" "Never." She turned to Lyubov. "Do you love Iosif?" "Yes." "Will you change your mind?" "Never." And it was done. They exchanged rings, kissed, and put their signatures to the marriage application. Aer 22 years as Lyubov Braverman, she was suddenly Lyubov Volsun. There was a lot of noisemaking and flash bulbs going off. Champagne flowed and people offered their congratulations for a long marriage with lots of children. Getting The Marriage License Getting The Marriage License the last Metro, because taxis were rare and very expensive. Iosif & Lyubov's Winter Honeymoon Iosif & Lyubov's Winter Honeymoon Now it was time for the couple's honeymoon. Of course they had just two days, so again they would improvise and rely on the kindness of others. Lyubov suggested they go to the village of Tomilino, about 30 miles southeast om Moscow. There the Braverman family rented a small cottage, mostly for the summers. In the middle of the winter, there was no problem getting it—there wasn't exactly a line of people waiting to use it. Iosif and Lyubov took a train to Tomilino and made their way to the cottage. There was snow up to their knees. Iosif was shocked when he opened the door. He had known it would not be the Metropol Hotel, but he was astounded at how primitive it was: All of the windows were covered with ice, there was no electricity, the water was ozen solid in a bucket, and the toilet was outside. The cold was terrible,

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