22 June 2007 (Friday)
Again, Lorien, Mindy and I are writing our diaries together.
Few of us woke up until relatively late in the morning. Fiona, Dave and Lisa
apparently had a great time, and Fiona assured me that e could get another
invitation from Satyrian. We were invited to spend the night again tonight,
but plans tend to change with this group.
Lorien, Mindy and I joined Mindy's family at Yvette's. Greg, Ima, Mindy,
Bobbie, Alec, Raidon, Josh, Lorien, Mindy and I went shopping. Ima said Josh
and Raidon have been together almost the whole trip, and slept outside in a
small tent last night, so that at least someone in the family went camping.
Greg and Ima spent the night in a motel, which they seem to do at least once
each vacation.
We had talked about roleplaying, but I didn't have time to do more than
introduce basic concepts. Ima and Bobbie seemed the most interested, Ima
having experience and Bobbie being a newcomer.
At least we got to help with the wedding, if not to any great extent. As the
weather was supposed to be dry, they decided to hold the wedding outdoors after
all. We tied bows of rose and ivory, the wedding's colors, around trees and
bushes, which I didn't think would work but it did. I spent most of my time
before the wedding picking up trash. Apparently Claire, Dolly's mother, had
insisted on ivory as a color instead of white, considering Dolly's condition as
a nursing mother expecting another.
The photographer was a family friend. Ironically, as the wedding was outside I
would have been happy to have shot it. But with the uncertainty of the
location and weather, I hadn't mentioned it. I couldn't resist taking a few
photos, however. I think I got some good shots of the bride Dolly and groom
Joey and some of the others, but will have to wait to find out.
The wedding was relatively traditional and went relatively smoothly, and the
young ringbearer Brian managed to keep the even younger flowerbearer Clara more
or less in line by holding es hand all the way down. I heard the handholding
wasn't the plan, but it worked. It was a short ceremony with a relatively
small crowd of family and friends. Unfortunately Dolly's father Sloan, who was
expected to attend, never came. Neither did Tim, although Yvette and es who
family came, including Allen, Vickie, Josh and even eldest son Dan, who doesn't
live with the rest of the family.
The most untraditional part of the wedding was the photo of Craig, Joey's late
brother and possible father of Clara. To some objection, Joey insisted it be
placed in the front row, although the family wouldn't accept it having it's own
seat, so "Craig" sat on a relative's lap. I mentally questioned the logic of
having Craig's photo there so "Craig can see the wedding" when they also
believe the child Dolly is carrying is the reincarnated Craig, but I kept my
mouth shut. I'm not sure how many people accept the reincarnation story told
by the psychic, although Joey, Dolly, Vickie and Josh all seem to be true
believers. Lorien and Mindy think it's possible, but uncertain. Personally, I
think it's about as likely as President George W. Bush getting elected to a
third term. I made a quiet joke that, "I wonder if Craig's picture will be on
the bedside table during their honeymoon."
We had a reception with food and dancing to a DJ. It became something of a
game to drag me to the dance floor, so I got dragged by Lorien and Fiona twice,
and once by Ima. I also danced with Mindy, but that was by Lorien and Ima's
arrangement. I spent half the time learning new dance steps, or at least steps
new to me. I haven't danced in a long tme, and never did do it frequently,
although I've danced in musicals a few times. Shortly before Joey and Dolly
left on their one-weekend honeymoon, Joey insisted I dance with Dolly. I had
fun, and was glad Joey didn't ask me to dance while holding Craig's photo,
which was displayed near the wedding cake. After dancing, Ima wanted another
foot rub, which I gave.
Greg and Ima apparently had a disagreement about their return time. The
original plan was for them to head back home Saturday morning, but Greg thought
they would make better time if they headed back tonight. Ima said they'd make
better time if they had a full nght's sleep, and people had already made other
plans for tonight anyway. The rest of the travelers, with the exception of
Bobbie who didn't seem to care and Raidon who apparently had an argument with
Josh, wanted to spend the night as well. In the end, they decided to stick
with the original plan. Greg talked to me about the fickleness of women, and I
listened respectfully if without much comment, considering it was apparently
Greg who was changing plans.
Sleeping arrangements got confused, which seems to be typical for these visits.
Yvette is no longer offering es place as crash space for everyone, I'm
assuming due to the influence of Tim. Although it never was practical.
Lorien, Mindy and I headed to Dave, Fiona and Lisa's for a "midnight pool
party" that began considerably earlier than midnight. We were the only ones
there, if you don't count Buddy and Crissy, who had gone to bed. By general
agreement and in harmony with the previous evening, we decided to wear
traditional swimwear, i.e., pre-19th century. The backyard is designed for
privacy, and is frequently used by their group. The pool has built-in subdued
lighting above and underwater which was suplimented by scented candlelight
above, which gave a subdued, intimate atmosphere, along with what I would call
New Age music that was piped in.
It was one of the freest evenings I've had, possibly even freer than Thursday.
We were free to experience all of our senses, and had a great time with each
other. It was one of those moments like the days at the half-elf Elrond's in
Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings. It was a moment that was wonderful to
experience, but not one that could be adequately described.
23 June 2007 (Saturday)
Lorien, Mindy and I had to leave quite early, as they had very limited time to
make their long trip home. I said goodbye to them and Mindy's family and
friends, and to Yvette and es family. It was a wonderful visit.
Copyright 2007 by The Loveshade Family
|
Harmony
The most
untraditional part
of the wedding
was the photo of
Craig, the groom's
late brother,
placed in the front
row.
The wedding
was relatively
traditional
(except for the
visibly pregnant
teenaged bride)
and went
relatively
smoothly.
|
We had a
reception with
food and dancing
to a DJ.
|
Lorien, Mindy
and I headed to
Dave, Fiona
and Lisa's for a
"midnight pool
party."
|
We had
talked about
roleplaying,
but I didn't
have time to
do more than
introduce
basic
concepts.
|
It was a wonderful
visit.