WHAT IS A TRADITIONAL WEDDING?

Somewhere, in a lighted, heated, tent, my “baby” brother, Clark,  got married to Theresa Gillick, a second marriage for them.

Theresa wore a lovely wedding dress and the best man, my nephew Tom, wore a traditional suit. For Tom, a suit is a mile marker. I joshed that I had to attend this wedding just to see Tom in a suit. He told me he wore a suit to Clark’s first wedding as best man, and that it might be the last time he wore a suit. Uncle Clark is younger than his nephew Tom.

Tom’s wife, Maryanna, claimed he didn’t wear a suit when they married. “I like it she said. I hope I can get him to wear it again.” (At his funeral he claims.)

My son, Ken became licensed to marry them. A first for him.  By their own vows they pledged their fealty and wed. Writing your own vows has become traditional.

Theresa has the cutest little grandchildren. This little angel spread flower petals for them to tred upon. Later, she gathered them up, from her own sense of right, and put them back in the bag.

Having children in a wedding is always a joy as we look upon tears, smiles and questioning faces. Lucky Clark inherits a beautiful set of grandchildren as well. One of the good things about second marriages.

This little grandson I believe was the ring bearer. He was only interested in his toy unless someone convinced him to look up for that crucial moment. Got it!!

I like to tease Clark about being my baby brother but when he reminded me he was 60, I decided maybe I better knock it off. I doted on him when he was a kid and liked to play mother to him and my brother Mark, 13 months older. Of my five brothers, two are deceased.

I watched fascinated when the photographer  stopped to arrange Theresa’s flowing veil and actually tied it up so she could walk properly. Gown’s can be shortened on the spot without a needle or thread. Traditional?

My daughter Virginia mentioned how easy it is for kids to get acquainted. Abbie, on the right, stepped out on the dance floor and made instant friends with the grandchildren she’d just met.  Life is simple if you’re a kid.

My oldest brother, Bill, parodied some movie character:  “Bring on the grub.” Soon enough, we were eating prime rib, chicken in a rich sauce, vegetables and a tossed green salad.

A non-traditional chocolate cheesecake.

The adults hit the dance floor after dinner and a few drinks.

You go girl! Everyone danced with everyone. It mattered not if women danced with women, or children or dads and brothers. My Uncle Veron and Uncle Norman taught me how to dance for my Uncle Roger’s wedding.

Some years back it was tradition to put cameras on the tables and guests took pictures of each other. Clark and Theresa engaged the services of a photo booth.  Zany pictures, fun pictures or prim pictures, mixing people who didn’t know each other; instant results. Clark and Theresa and  guests get a copy. Clark also hired a limousine service that drives anyone home, and a second driver follows with your personal car.  Safety for anyone who may have had a drink too many. It was really fun. To see the rest of the pictures, click the link below:

 

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LIKE INSTANT OLD FRIENDS

Meet Geraldine, last name unknown. She has a twinkle in her eye that shows the devilment she caused her family as a fiery readheaded kid with freckles.

And Jetta. Last name unknown. Named Jetta before the Volkswagon. Beautiful woman with the sweetness imprinted on her face.

I flew out of Sacramento Airport yesterday to meet my partner, Jim,  in Apache Junction, Arizona. My back pack was heavy and packed tightly. When I reached for my book, a book I knew I had put into the backpack, I couldn’t find it. I sighed and commented that I never get on a plane without a book. Geraldine suggested I read the inflight magazine as she opened her own book. I asked her what she was reading and the next thing you know, the three of  us were discussing books, flights, places, families, religion, the world…
The stewardess came by and asked us if we were sisters? At that point we hadn’t even traded names. So, we did while she stood there.
A woman across the aisle, Mary Elizabeth, thought we were having so much fun, she wanted to converse  with us, too. It’s as though we were instant friends. I handed Geraldine my card and still without trading last names, she decided to check me out on-line. Instant friends because I’d forgotten my book.
The funny thing is, when I got to the motor home and unpacked my things, my book was in my pack after all. I love serendipity. What a fun flight getting to know these two lovely women for a couple of hours.

The Phoenix airport still has an old fashioned shoe shine stand. And the shoe shiner is a woman. It reminded me much of a children’s book my youngest daughter loved about a little girl wanting to run a shoe shine stand at a time when women and girls were locked into positions that gave them few choices in life. If memory serves me, the author was Clyde Robert Bulla. Doncha know, everything is related?