2015

My wedding day is finally here. My name is Jasmine Sparrow and I'm engaged to be married to Prince Maximum or Prince Max as we call him. Prince Max is the twin brother of Prince Harry. He is the first of the twins to get married.

I was born on September 15, 1985 in Key West, Florida. My father is Jack Sparrow and my mother is Nancy. They were high school sweethearts who got married after college. I have a younger brother and two twin sisters (one of whom sadly died in 2009 in Iraq).

I was watching the TV while my hair and make-up was being put up.

"Just think back in the 18th century Jack Sparrow was considered an enemy of the royal crown. After retiring from being a pirate, Jack Sparrow settled in the Bahamas. When he died at the age of 88, he had been married 4 times and had fathered a total of 20 children with 9 different woman. He has been called the father of the Modern Bahamas as its estimated that about 15% of the population is related to him by blood or marriage. Many of his descendents in the Bahamas have been in prominent positions including many in the Parliament, two governors including current Governor Maxine Sparrow-Grisby who will be attendance at the wedding. I also forgot to mention that the Sparrow family also won Olympic medals in Sailing back in 1976. Well, I guess the sea is in their blood."said one reporter.

"The branch of Jasmine Sparrow goes back to the 1822's when Michael Sparrow came to Key West. The Sparrow family is considered one of the founding families of Key West. About 1 in 10 persons who are long time residences of Key West are related to the Sparrow by blood or marriage. Jack Sparrow is the President of the Key West Marina and Yacht Club and has been for the past 15 years. Prior to this, he was the one to go to when a boat needed restoration or repair. He still does boat repairs but not as much. Jasmine mother Nancy owns an art gallery and makes jewelry." said another reporter.

"The Sparrow family also has a long history of military service in the US. Jack's father was a Korean War Veteran who came back to Key West after the War and was a flight instructor at the naval station until he retired. His mother Barbara was a nurse at the naval station. Jack was the youngest of 6 children. All of them including Jack served in the navy. Then there is the tragedy in 2009 when Jack's other daughter died in Iraq from a land mine. Jackie was 19 years old. Unlike others in her family, Jackie went into the army rather than the navy. The tragedy was further compounded when Jack's father a couple of hours after hearing about his granddaughter's death collapsed at his home and died shortly after being taken to the hospital. His funeral was held the day after. Jack's mom Dorothy had died in 1973 of breast cancer when Jack was young.

Tears came to Jasmine's eye as she remembered that awful day that her sister died. It was like yesterday. A private family funeral was held at the Grace Episcopal Church (the church was packed from family from the Keys as well as those who had come from the Bahamas) and thousands of people came and packed the streets of Key West. They stood on the street as the car made their way to the church cemetery where the Sparrow family was buried. A memorial service later was held at the Key West Convention Center. The place was packed with people.

The commercial break ended and the two reporters were back on the air.

"We haven't talked much about Nancy Sparrow, who is Jasmine mother. Her parents actually met in elementary school. Jack and Nancy were on the beach for a sunrise service. The story goes that Nancy ruined his Easter suit when he complained about not liking it. He supposedly dared her to smear dirt on his suit and she did. She got in trouble for it."

Nancy chuckled when she heard the story.

"Yes, I remember that quite well as Mom gave me a spanking in public and I had to apologize to Jack. I got no sympathy from dad who told me I deserved to get a spanking for my misdeeds. Jack just laughed at me until his dad threatened him with punishment. He found out the truth and then Jack got punished later on. We were both 6 years old."

"Nancy owns a gift shop on Duval Street.. Her father Milton Miller was stationed in Key West Naval Station during World War II. After the war, he stayed there and established a successful construction company. Many of the buildings in Key West that were built, he was involved with or helped built. Her mother Shirley was a homemaker. There were 3 children, Nancy being the youngest. Sadly the dad passed away about 10 years ago. Shirley is 81 years old and will be there for her granddaughter's wedding. "

"I guess that they have given a bio of our family." said Shirley.

The reporter show a picture of Jack and Nancy when they are in high school. They were voted most attractive couple.

"Doesn't Jack Sparrow look like Johnny Depp? If I didn't know that this was Jack Sparrow, I would think that this was a picture of Johnny Depp. He actually is very distantly related to Johnny Depp as one as Lillian Sparrow left the Bahamas in 1830 and married a man named Matthew Depp in 1833. A cousin 3 or 4 times removed or something like that. Another interesting fact is that Jack Sparrow met Johnny in 2003 and they are now good friends. Johnny wasn't able to attend the wedding but his ex-partner Vanessa arrived earlier at the church.

It wasn't long before Jack showed up. Then they were in the carriage together. Never in a million years did he expect that his daughter would marry a prince. No did her daughter dream of marrying a prince.

He doubted that his great-great-great-great (he didn't know how many great) grandfather who was considered an enemy and menace to the British crown could have ever imagined that his granddaughter generations later would marry into royalty.

Jasmine parents walked her down the aisle. The church was beautiful. The service was beautiful. Everything was beautiful.

The End