Frank and I are back home from our trip to Oregon for the wedding of my 31-year-old daughter and her fiance. She is my only child, very dear to me, and the light of my life. Her fiance, now husband, lives and works in Oregon and is a citizen, but was born near Barcelona, Spain and grew up there. His parents have never been outside of Spain before, and do not speak English (and I do not speak Spanish) but luckily their warmth and caring needed no translation. My ex was there, which also had the potential of being awkward - - we have not communicated for 11 years since our divorce - - but everyone was on their best behavior.
It didn't rain, and the weather was perfect for this outdoor wedding in a wedding grove. About 25-30 people attended, many of them people who work with the groom at Intel and were the very definition of geeks (meant in a kindly way because they were great people and many were also multilingual and could help with the translating). Christina was 45 minutes late in making her entrance. The groom waited patiently at the altar. When she finally made her entrance, on her father's arm, she was breathtakingly, stunningly gorgeous and utterly elegant. There was a rose ceremony in which the mothers each got a beautiful red rose. Their vows were written by each for the wedding, and were so touching and real that my eyes brimmed with tears of joy and happiness. .
After the wedding, the photographer took photos of the wedding party and families and then we joined everyone else at the reception. There was a table for the wedding party, and then eight identical tables with red tableclothes, many votive candles, gift chocolates in little boxes, and flowers on each. I got a chance to talk with the bride and groom together and separately at various times during the evening, and their love for one another and mutual commitment is deep. He is the right person for her, and she for him.
There was a very lavish catered buffet dinner with an open bar, and the wedding cake was delicious (chocolate with white icing! yum). I heard some of it was carrot cake too, but I didn't have that. The best man gave a toast, and then each of the four parents made an extemporaneous statement. The groom's parents did it in Spanish with a geek translator. It all worked out. Then the couple danced and after them the Intel people danced. Ever see geeks dance after a few drinks? They were hilarious and had a lot of fun. I got to talk to a friend of Christina's who was in her first grade class, and also was her first college roommate, and who I hadn't seen since then. She flew in from Texas for the wedding. And, I got to meet some of her Oregon friends that I have been hearing about for so long. The reception lasted until 10:00 or 10:15 PM. We were the last family members to leave, though 3-4 of the intoxicated geeks were still there.
Christina said on Facebook last night that everything went perfectly, other than the late start, and I agree! I am so happy that she had her dream wedding and that it was all that she had hoped. She is on what she calls her "mini-honeymoon", a couple of days at the Oregon coast, and they plan to have their "real honeymoon" (a trip to Japan) in a couple of months when they can get off work.
Frank and I spent all day yesterday flying back to New Orleans, a grueling experience with ALL planes completely full (ugh!) and nothing but peanuts for lunch and dinner so we went out to dinner last night at 9:00, after we arrived in New Orleans. We hardly slept the whole time we were in Oregon, due to continual wedding-related parties, so I slept well last night.
store it for me?
It is one of the oldest 3D movies made.
. I know, I am a wimp, a sissy, chicken.....
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and mail me a check for $4.58 before I call the SEC. If I see any charges assessed on the upcoming transfer on the other 2 accounts, you will hear from my attorney."
