(click image to enlarge)
Winter is coming. It's cold, and the wind bites a little.
But it's good to get out and walk. To stretch my body and raise my heart rate, just a little, for the first time in weeks.
Maybe tomorrow, I will go again.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Waiting for the snow
(click image to enlarge)
Winter is coming. It's cold, and the wind bites a little.
But it's good to get out and walk. To stretch my body and raise my heart rate, just a little, for the first time in weeks.
Maybe tomorrow, I will go again.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thankfulness
When I became single, again, 6 years ago, I thought I'd be alone for the rest of my life.
I'd pretty much been alone for all of it so far, with an ex husband who abandoned me for his addictions, and an ex fiance who was never home because, I later discovered, he was cheating on me.
I had lost faith. Completely.
I was convinced that there was something wrong with me that caused men to THINK they were in love, only to turn their backs, and "leave," in one form or another.
It didn't matter how much I was in love....the more I loved, the more deeply I was hurt.
It was the fact of my life.
But, as my brother said, I was always an optimist, and so, I started looking.
Even in the depths of despair, I put myself out there, relentlessly, in search of the one person who could restore my faith.
I never did find him.
Not on my own.
I met lots of losers.
I met a few good ones, with potential... who, naturally, dumped me. One of them, after declaring his love for me, and bringing me to the brink of that myself, just... vanished.
I have a book's worth of stories to tell about the 23 men I met over 5 years....but, it took the intervention of a dear friend to stop the process of what seemed like an endless round of disappointment.
An innocent email: "Would you be interested in meeting a friend of mine?"
And, with that, I discovered that there might be hope.
Today, even though I am at home alone, and my husband is 800 miles away, at home alone....I am thankful for BHD, and her innocent email.
I'd pretty much been alone for all of it so far, with an ex husband who abandoned me for his addictions, and an ex fiance who was never home because, I later discovered, he was cheating on me.
I had lost faith. Completely.
I was convinced that there was something wrong with me that caused men to THINK they were in love, only to turn their backs, and "leave," in one form or another.
It didn't matter how much I was in love....the more I loved, the more deeply I was hurt.
It was the fact of my life.
But, as my brother said, I was always an optimist, and so, I started looking.
Even in the depths of despair, I put myself out there, relentlessly, in search of the one person who could restore my faith.
I never did find him.
Not on my own.
I met lots of losers.
I met a few good ones, with potential... who, naturally, dumped me. One of them, after declaring his love for me, and bringing me to the brink of that myself, just... vanished.
I have a book's worth of stories to tell about the 23 men I met over 5 years....but, it took the intervention of a dear friend to stop the process of what seemed like an endless round of disappointment.
An innocent email: "Would you be interested in meeting a friend of mine?"
And, with that, I discovered that there might be hope.
Today, even though I am at home alone, and my husband is 800 miles away, at home alone....I am thankful for BHD, and her innocent email.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Onward...the honeymoon, part 1
...So, after everyone left the reception, we picked up our belongings, and were taken back to my place.
There, while our friends waited downstairs, I wearily changed out of my dress, into something more comfortable. We grabbed our overnight bags, and were shuttled off to our bridal suite, at the downtown Chicago hotel!
I was so, so hungry and tired by this time that D was worried about me. I was very quiet, finding it hard to smile, and had a THUNDERING head ache. I was feeling weak and light headed.
We were dropped off by Fe and M, checked in to the Swissotel Chicago, in which I had sprung for the most expensive room ($400 a night), with the architecture tour, and breakfast the next morning, included.
Up to the 14th floor.
The hotel is triangular in shape, and the corner that looks out over the Chicago River, Navy Pier, and Lake Michigan has the rooms with the best view, and thus, the highest price.
Our room was a bit spartan, if you ask me. Very contemporary, but the view was spectacular. The ferris wheel was lit up, and the city lights were sparkling on the water.
We did notice, however, that a new building was going up a bit to the south, blocking about half of our view of the lake itself.
In Chicago, in the summer, there are fireworks at that area of the lake front every Saturday night. This was why I sprung for the pricey room. So we could enjoy our room-service dinner, and watch the fireworks, on our wedding night.
I took a hot bath while D ordered dinner.
We ate with relish, and D said it was probably the best steak he had ever had, in his entire life. It was an incredibly delicious meal.
I felt somewhat restored. D took a shower, and I spun the champagne in it's bucket of ice.
The fireworks started.
That new building, the one blocking our view to the south, completely blocked our view of the fireworks. So we opened our envelopes, instead, and took account of the cash and gift card haul!
The reservations specialist I had spoken to HAD, after all, said "There's no guarantee that you will be able to see the fireworks, even in that corner of the building, because, depending on wind and weather conditions, they set the fireworks off from slightly different spots along the lake."
Dammit.
I could have sprung for a FAR less expensive room, and had the same view of the river and the pier....but oh well.
We cracked open the champagne.
In the morning, we enjoyed a really wonderful breakfast buffet, dropped our bags off with the consierge, and walked over to the pick-up point on the river for the architecture tour.
I had taken the tour before, and loved it, but so much has changed in the skyline over the ensuing years, that it was just as interesting as the first time.
We had THE most perfect day for it. In every sense of the word!
The sky was crystal clear, the temperature was moderate, the humidity had moved out. It was post card weather.
D loved the tour, and has fallen in love with Chicago, even though it scared him at first. It's a much bigger city than he is used to.
After the tour, we walked over to "the bean," and wandered the park.
I actually guided D on a little tour! For me, this was the FIRST TIME I had EVER been down town without someone else along who acted as "guide."
This time, I was the "expert," and I realized that I know a lot more about my city than I thought I did!
From the park, where we got Chicago style hot dogs and a Coke for lunch, we wandered to the outdoor garden by the Art Institute, and sat there for a while in the shade. Then, we walked back up Michigan to Wacker, and walked up that way, past the markers for Fort Dearborn. We strolled along the river.
Ultimately, we were back at our hotel bar for a cocktail at 1 (it was our honeymoon, come on!!), and we waited for my sister and brother in law to come and get us.
When they arrived, they took us up to Wrigleyville, where we hopped a few bars during the game. D now LOVES Wrigleyville, and has become, somewhat regretfully, a Cub fan!
Then, we took a driving tour of Oak Park, where my brother in law pointed out places from his youth, as well as several Frank Lloyd Write buildings. D is a FLLW fan, as is my entire family.
THEN, we went to Russell's barbecue in River Forest (I think) for dinner. I had, miraculously, never been there. It had been a popular hang out when my dad was a kid, and generations have considered it one of the best places for pulled pork!
Then, back to my sister and brother in law's house, to pick up the gifts people were not supposed to give us, and finally, back home.
So, stage one of the honeymoon was a wonderful, spectacular, bright lights, big city time!!
There, while our friends waited downstairs, I wearily changed out of my dress, into something more comfortable. We grabbed our overnight bags, and were shuttled off to our bridal suite, at the downtown Chicago hotel!
I was so, so hungry and tired by this time that D was worried about me. I was very quiet, finding it hard to smile, and had a THUNDERING head ache. I was feeling weak and light headed.
We were dropped off by Fe and M, checked in to the Swissotel Chicago, in which I had sprung for the most expensive room ($400 a night), with the architecture tour, and breakfast the next morning, included.
Up to the 14th floor.
The hotel is triangular in shape, and the corner that looks out over the Chicago River, Navy Pier, and Lake Michigan has the rooms with the best view, and thus, the highest price.
Our room was a bit spartan, if you ask me. Very contemporary, but the view was spectacular. The ferris wheel was lit up, and the city lights were sparkling on the water.
We did notice, however, that a new building was going up a bit to the south, blocking about half of our view of the lake itself.
In Chicago, in the summer, there are fireworks at that area of the lake front every Saturday night. This was why I sprung for the pricey room. So we could enjoy our room-service dinner, and watch the fireworks, on our wedding night.
I took a hot bath while D ordered dinner.
We ate with relish, and D said it was probably the best steak he had ever had, in his entire life. It was an incredibly delicious meal.
I felt somewhat restored. D took a shower, and I spun the champagne in it's bucket of ice.
The fireworks started.
That new building, the one blocking our view to the south, completely blocked our view of the fireworks. So we opened our envelopes, instead, and took account of the cash and gift card haul!
The reservations specialist I had spoken to HAD, after all, said "There's no guarantee that you will be able to see the fireworks, even in that corner of the building, because, depending on wind and weather conditions, they set the fireworks off from slightly different spots along the lake."
Dammit.
I could have sprung for a FAR less expensive room, and had the same view of the river and the pier....but oh well.
We cracked open the champagne.
In the morning, we enjoyed a really wonderful breakfast buffet, dropped our bags off with the consierge, and walked over to the pick-up point on the river for the architecture tour.
I had taken the tour before, and loved it, but so much has changed in the skyline over the ensuing years, that it was just as interesting as the first time.
We had THE most perfect day for it. In every sense of the word!
The sky was crystal clear, the temperature was moderate, the humidity had moved out. It was post card weather.
D loved the tour, and has fallen in love with Chicago, even though it scared him at first. It's a much bigger city than he is used to.
After the tour, we walked over to "the bean," and wandered the park.
I actually guided D on a little tour! For me, this was the FIRST TIME I had EVER been down town without someone else along who acted as "guide."
This time, I was the "expert," and I realized that I know a lot more about my city than I thought I did!
From the park, where we got Chicago style hot dogs and a Coke for lunch, we wandered to the outdoor garden by the Art Institute, and sat there for a while in the shade. Then, we walked back up Michigan to Wacker, and walked up that way, past the markers for Fort Dearborn. We strolled along the river.
Ultimately, we were back at our hotel bar for a cocktail at 1 (it was our honeymoon, come on!!), and we waited for my sister and brother in law to come and get us.
When they arrived, they took us up to Wrigleyville, where we hopped a few bars during the game. D now LOVES Wrigleyville, and has become, somewhat regretfully, a Cub fan!
Then, we took a driving tour of Oak Park, where my brother in law pointed out places from his youth, as well as several Frank Lloyd Write buildings. D is a FLLW fan, as is my entire family.
THEN, we went to Russell's barbecue in River Forest (I think) for dinner. I had, miraculously, never been there. It had been a popular hang out when my dad was a kid, and generations have considered it one of the best places for pulled pork!
Then, back to my sister and brother in law's house, to pick up the gifts people were not supposed to give us, and finally, back home.
So, stage one of the honeymoon was a wonderful, spectacular, bright lights, big city time!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Boids
I used to have a "nature blog" on this site, but I lost my ability to write it every day, from the perspective I wanted, so I deleted it.
But there are still days when things catch my eye, and I realize that the Spirit of Nature is present in my life, and guides my every day existence.
Yesterday, as I was talking to D on the phone before dawn, I could see the storm to the east of us that was dumping snow on northern Indiana and western Michigan. They call this kind of snow "lake effect snow," round these parts. Usually, those are the areas that get it the worst, because that's the way the wind blows.
Once in a great while, the wind shifts, and lake effect snow falls WEST of Lake Michigan, where I live, but not usually.
Anyway, the sky was so interesting. The sun was still down below the heavy clouds in the eastern sky. I could clearly see the storm system over there, because the sky above me was deep, clear blue, and the sun rise was on it's way.
The impending sun rise back lit the storm, and it looked exactly like a mountain range.
Not one cloud in the sky here, above my head, but a blizzard raging just a little ways to the east. It was very interesting to see from this perspective.
Then, on the way to work, a BIG, mature red tailed hawk swooped in front of my car. I got a GREAT look at that gorgeous tail. He was off in pursuit of some prey.
Minutes later, I spotted a wild turkey hen standing by the side of the road, all by herself. I wondered what she was doing out there alone, since this is the flocking season.
Then, today, there was a Cooper's hawk just outside of work, and then, an immature red tailed hawk, without a red tail yet (so, less than a year old), perched on a lamp post, over the street I live on.
He was preening his feathers, and watching cars pass under him (or her).
When I see things like this, I have to wonder if ANY of my fellow commuters, here in suburbia, ever notice these things in the same way that I do.
My guess? Nope.
But there are still days when things catch my eye, and I realize that the Spirit of Nature is present in my life, and guides my every day existence.
Yesterday, as I was talking to D on the phone before dawn, I could see the storm to the east of us that was dumping snow on northern Indiana and western Michigan. They call this kind of snow "lake effect snow," round these parts. Usually, those are the areas that get it the worst, because that's the way the wind blows.
Once in a great while, the wind shifts, and lake effect snow falls WEST of Lake Michigan, where I live, but not usually.
Anyway, the sky was so interesting. The sun was still down below the heavy clouds in the eastern sky. I could clearly see the storm system over there, because the sky above me was deep, clear blue, and the sun rise was on it's way.
The impending sun rise back lit the storm, and it looked exactly like a mountain range.
Not one cloud in the sky here, above my head, but a blizzard raging just a little ways to the east. It was very interesting to see from this perspective.
Then, on the way to work, a BIG, mature red tailed hawk swooped in front of my car. I got a GREAT look at that gorgeous tail. He was off in pursuit of some prey.
Minutes later, I spotted a wild turkey hen standing by the side of the road, all by herself. I wondered what she was doing out there alone, since this is the flocking season.
Then, today, there was a Cooper's hawk just outside of work, and then, an immature red tailed hawk, without a red tail yet (so, less than a year old), perched on a lamp post, over the street I live on.
He was preening his feathers, and watching cars pass under him (or her).
When I see things like this, I have to wonder if ANY of my fellow commuters, here in suburbia, ever notice these things in the same way that I do.
My guess? Nope.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Stagnant
Once again, much time has passed since my last post. Apologies.
Nothing has changed on the condo selling front. Other than dropping my price yet again. At this rate, it's a virtual guarantee that I will arrive at my husband's door step penniless, jobless, and with all of my debts in tow.
Great.
I considered taking the place off of the market, and just waiting, but my realtor advised against it.
She said that lots of sellers do that during the holidays, and it would be to my advantage to NOT do it. Especially given my situation, and considering that I DON'T WANT to still be here, trying to sell this place, 6 months from now. If I pull it off now, and start over later, that is exactly what will happen.
And I want it over.
Now.
My torn muscle seems to be doing a lot better. I have not yet been released to start dancing again, so I just keep doing some strengthening exercises, and stretches. It twinges now and again, but it's much improved.
My time being injured resulted in me gaining about 10 pounds. This is because of the forced lack of activity.
This, I find, is SUPREMELY frustrating!!
Now, as winter is setting in, and the holidays are coming, it will be nigh unto impossible to lose that weight.
I miss my husband with every waking breath, and many of my sleeping breaths, as well...as I continually have dreams about trying to find him, or get to him, or other related themes.
Sigh.
But, there's nothing to be done for it but to sit. And wait. And wait.
Nothing has changed on the condo selling front. Other than dropping my price yet again. At this rate, it's a virtual guarantee that I will arrive at my husband's door step penniless, jobless, and with all of my debts in tow.
Great.
I considered taking the place off of the market, and just waiting, but my realtor advised against it.
She said that lots of sellers do that during the holidays, and it would be to my advantage to NOT do it. Especially given my situation, and considering that I DON'T WANT to still be here, trying to sell this place, 6 months from now. If I pull it off now, and start over later, that is exactly what will happen.
And I want it over.
Now.
My torn muscle seems to be doing a lot better. I have not yet been released to start dancing again, so I just keep doing some strengthening exercises, and stretches. It twinges now and again, but it's much improved.
My time being injured resulted in me gaining about 10 pounds. This is because of the forced lack of activity.
This, I find, is SUPREMELY frustrating!!
Now, as winter is setting in, and the holidays are coming, it will be nigh unto impossible to lose that weight.
I miss my husband with every waking breath, and many of my sleeping breaths, as well...as I continually have dreams about trying to find him, or get to him, or other related themes.
Sigh.
But, there's nothing to be done for it but to sit. And wait. And wait.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The Big Day, part 2
Rasha al Warda, ala hobbitt
(more pictures are available at the link below)
So, after the ceremony, there was picture taking, while we continued to flail at the voracious mosquitoes.
I smacked one on my ex father in law's (referred to in this blog as Dad) forehead, and the bug was already bloated with a belly full of blood. THAT was messy...ew.
Once back in our cars, we told Dad what the plan was, so that we would all get to the reception together in caravan, since he had insisted on having his own car at the Arboretum.
We later realized that one of us should have gone with him!!
We dropped him to go get his car, and we SHOWED him where we would be waiting for him to pull in behind us before leaving.
He ambled off to parts unknown to find his car...which, apparently, he had NO trouble with at all.
Where he ran into trouble, we later found out, was in finding his way back to where we were waiting.
We were sitting out in plain sight, and we waited. And waited. And waited. We got out and walked around looking for his car.
We waited.
People were due to start arriving at the reception, so we had to head over. Without Dad.
Ultimately, we found out that he had, somehow or other, gotten behind my brother's vehicle, and had followed him and his wife to THEIR house.
The reception was not at my brother's house, it was at my sister's house!
I have NO idea how Dad knew to follow my brother, since he'd never even seen that vehicle before, but we were all thankful that he followed someone in the family!
My brother and sister in law had to go home, instead of to the reception, because of the reaction my sister in law was having to the scads of mosquito bites she received during the ceremony and photo shoot. She'd broken out in hives, and was not feeling well (she has some health challenges that make her hyper sensitive to odd things).
Anyway, on the phone, my brother assured us that he had looked over Dad's maps with him, and had taken a highlighter marker, and had very carefully, and clearly, given correct directions to Dad to get him from their house to my sister's house. Even given that, when he first pulled away, he went the wrong direction.
The Alzheimer's was, apparently, worse than any of us knew.
Back at the reception, people started to arrive, things were getting busy....and time passed. Dad never arrived.
The party was getting into full swing. People were having a great time! I heard that the food was GREAT (I never got any of it, other than a small plate of henna party left overs at about 3 pm), and the mingling and partying was going exceptionally well!
My dear friends F and P prepared to dance, and we all gathered out on the deck for their performances. It was overcast, horrendously humid, and hot...but it wasn't raining!
P danced first, and she was lovely, as always.
Across the deck, I saw my ex sister in law, and her husband, arrive.
In between dance performances, I rushed over to her, and asked, somewhat frantically, "Have you heard from Dad?"
She went white.
"No, I thought he was supposed to be here!"
So I told her the story, and that I didn't have his cell number, and that I had been in a panic since we realized we'd lost him.
She immediately got on the phone with him. I returned to my seat, somewhat relieved, and enjoyed F's dance performance.
Over the course of the next hour and a half or so, my ex sister in law and her husband managed to "talk Dad in." It's amazing that they could figure out where he was just by what he was saying was around him...because they are not from this part of the suburbs!
By the time he arrived, poor Dad was completely exhausted, because he'd been panicking himself, and he looked old and worn.
He sat in his car out front for quite some time, waiting for the return of some kind of calm. I went out and sat with him for a bit. He was drenched in sweat, and still somewhat confused.
This was, it later turned out, the end of his driving career.
He eventually came in and joined the party, had some food and drink, and felt better.
There were other things that happened at the reception, of course.
BHD gave the official toast, and I have NO idea what she said, but it was wonderful.
D removed my garter with his teeth, and M caught it.
I tossed my bouquet, and B caught it.
Most exciting of all, though, was that M and I had been in cahoots. He had called me a week or so before the wedding, and asked permission to propose to F at the reception!
Not only had F done the legal part of the ceremony, and helped put the reception together with my sister, and then danced at the reception....she would also be proposed to at the reception!
I was on board with the plan, and M and I laid out the details.
In the long run, my only regret was that, when I took F to present her to M, I didn't clue D in that it was "happening now," so he missed it.
He knew I had given permission for this to happen at our reception, but I was hungry, and tired, and overwhelmed, and still worried about Dad (who had not yet arrived at that time)...and all I could keep straight was that it was time for me to lead F to the living room.
When I got her there, M was waiting, with roses and a little box.
She didn't even really seem to SEE him, and turned back to face me to ask why I had brought her to the living room. I literally had to turn her by her shoulders, and walk her forward to stand in front of him!!
That part was pretty funny.
He's apparently asked her many times over several years, and she's always blown him off.
This time, she knew he was serious, and she accepted!
The weather stayed with us for most of the time. It broke out in a sudden bout of rain that was gone by the time everyone started to move from the deck toward the house, so they just resumed their seats.
People from my work made up the majority of the guests, including my BOSS, who usually makes it a policy to NOT become personally involved in ANY of his employees' lives.
It was very odd for him to come....I still don't know why he did that....but I was touched that he did.
The furthest traveled were BHD and hobbitt, from Washington state, and J and C, from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Everyone said they had a really great time.
The cake was Portillo's chocolate cake, which, if you've never had it, I am sorry for you!
The food people brought was fabulous and diverse, so I heard, and, for weeks afterward, I was still being complimented on how much fun, and how relaxed and different it was.
Despite losing Dad, all in all, it was a wonderful, magical day!!
Reception pictures, taken by hobbitt, are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidlabs/sets/72157606265214890/
(why is is that my husband looked just as good at the end of the day, as he had at the beginning, and my appearance just seemed to degrade, with stress, and the heat, and hunger, and excitment? NOT FAIR!)
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Big Day, part 1
The night of the henna party, I got home at about 10:30 or so, and had to remove the crusty, sticky henna paste from my hands and feet before I could crawl into bed.
Everything was in readiness for the morning. My dress and slip came home with me from the party, and I had my plans laid out for getting ready in the morning, so that I could relax and maybe get a little sleep.
I took a non prescription sleeping pill, and headed to the kitchen.
With a butter knife, I scraped and pried. It was, in a word, painful...but eventually, most of the dried henna was in, or around, the trash can.
The fragrance was heavenly!
Off to bed, and restless sleep.
In the morning, I made my coffee with Bailey's, and took a long, luxurious shower.
By the time I was putting on my make up, having had scrambled eggs for breakfast, my sister had arrived.
She'd left a note for the boys to NOT FORGET the bug spray and, most importantly, the "fogger" for spraying insect repellent around the wedding site.
I sent her off to pick up the flowers, with a call to the florist to alert them that someone other than me was going to do the pick up.
They were surprisingly friendly and courteous on the phone. Must have been a different person working, than any of the ones I had dealt with previously!!
While she was out, my ex father in law arrived. He had successfully navigated his way HERE, which, later in the day, became recognized as a miracle!
We were due to arrive at the Morton Arboretum at 11:45, for a noon wedding. All was going as planned.
I did try to primp my hair up a bit, but it was thunderstorming out...yes, thunderstorming...and the humidity changed my hair plans irrevocably! It was just long and wavy. Period.
As I finished getting ready, I quietly did a little "witchy stuff" to try to influence the weather.
The clouds stopped thundering. The rain stopped pouring. The skies began to clear.
I may be delusional in thinking that, perhaps, my efforts, and those of everyone else who said they were praying for the rain to stop, actually worked.
But, whatever the case, the rain stopped, and it just became incredibly muggy and buggy out.
No rain, however, was key to out plans to marry in the woods!
A, my ex father in law, had been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, you may recall.
We had planned to have him ride with us in my sister's car to the wedding and reception, and then have someone bring him back here to get his car after the reception.
He was not going for that. He insisted upon driving his own car to the wedding, because, he said "I have a handicap permit for parking."
We could not understand the logic of that, since where he parked was irrelevant. We were planning to park near the wedding spot, and walk into the woods from there. There was no handicap parking spot there! But he insisted on being self sufficient, and having his own car at the woods. HE could not understand OUR logic.
So, we decided he could follow us, and park in the main lot, THEN get into our car, and proceed with us to the wedding site.
We were running on time.
All went well, until we got to the Arboretum lot, and, because of his handicap placard, A was routed away from us.
Rather than telling the parking attendant that he needed to stay WITH US, he allowed himself to be re routed to a totally different area in the main lot, where he could use his handicapped pass!
Then he got out of his car and started wandering.
Anyway, I was late for my own wedding because I lost the man who was to give me away! It took us a full 20 minutes to find him.
When we did, he was agitated, and sweating, and so was I!! But, we proceeded to the site, with my brother waiting for us at the parking area.
My sister in law had joined us in the lot, and aided in our search for A, so she met her husband, and took D's boutineer to him.
My sister in law also alerted everyone that the bride had finally arrived, and they made ready.
The wedding proceeded perfectly. Well, except for the million mosquitoes which were voraciously attacking us.
The boys had ignored my sister's note, and no bug spray or fogger had been brought to the site.
Because of the rain, and the fact that it had been a wet summer, the mosquitoes were worse than I had ever seen them. They were landing on faces, and necks, and scalps, and getting under skirts, and biting through clothes.
It was horrendous.
BHD had a big straw hat with her, and she was constantly using it to fan away bugs.
My sister in law had a bad reaction to all of the bites, and was unable to attend part of the reception!
I will not go into detail about the ceremony, other than to say that the sun broke through and shined on us at highly pertinent moments. The words spoken were powerful and evocative. The ceremony itself was sacred and perfect!
hobbitt took wonderful photographs, which can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidlabs/sets/72157606195493833/
and by 12:30 or so pm, on July 12, 2008, D and I were husband and wife!!
Everything was in readiness for the morning. My dress and slip came home with me from the party, and I had my plans laid out for getting ready in the morning, so that I could relax and maybe get a little sleep.
I took a non prescription sleeping pill, and headed to the kitchen.
With a butter knife, I scraped and pried. It was, in a word, painful...but eventually, most of the dried henna was in, or around, the trash can.
The fragrance was heavenly!
Off to bed, and restless sleep.
In the morning, I made my coffee with Bailey's, and took a long, luxurious shower.
By the time I was putting on my make up, having had scrambled eggs for breakfast, my sister had arrived.
She'd left a note for the boys to NOT FORGET the bug spray and, most importantly, the "fogger" for spraying insect repellent around the wedding site.
I sent her off to pick up the flowers, with a call to the florist to alert them that someone other than me was going to do the pick up.
They were surprisingly friendly and courteous on the phone. Must have been a different person working, than any of the ones I had dealt with previously!!
While she was out, my ex father in law arrived. He had successfully navigated his way HERE, which, later in the day, became recognized as a miracle!
We were due to arrive at the Morton Arboretum at 11:45, for a noon wedding. All was going as planned.
I did try to primp my hair up a bit, but it was thunderstorming out...yes, thunderstorming...and the humidity changed my hair plans irrevocably! It was just long and wavy. Period.
As I finished getting ready, I quietly did a little "witchy stuff" to try to influence the weather.
The clouds stopped thundering. The rain stopped pouring. The skies began to clear.
I may be delusional in thinking that, perhaps, my efforts, and those of everyone else who said they were praying for the rain to stop, actually worked.
But, whatever the case, the rain stopped, and it just became incredibly muggy and buggy out.
No rain, however, was key to out plans to marry in the woods!
A, my ex father in law, had been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, you may recall.
We had planned to have him ride with us in my sister's car to the wedding and reception, and then have someone bring him back here to get his car after the reception.
He was not going for that. He insisted upon driving his own car to the wedding, because, he said "I have a handicap permit for parking."
We could not understand the logic of that, since where he parked was irrelevant. We were planning to park near the wedding spot, and walk into the woods from there. There was no handicap parking spot there! But he insisted on being self sufficient, and having his own car at the woods. HE could not understand OUR logic.
So, we decided he could follow us, and park in the main lot, THEN get into our car, and proceed with us to the wedding site.
We were running on time.
All went well, until we got to the Arboretum lot, and, because of his handicap placard, A was routed away from us.
Rather than telling the parking attendant that he needed to stay WITH US, he allowed himself to be re routed to a totally different area in the main lot, where he could use his handicapped pass!
Then he got out of his car and started wandering.
Anyway, I was late for my own wedding because I lost the man who was to give me away! It took us a full 20 minutes to find him.
When we did, he was agitated, and sweating, and so was I!! But, we proceeded to the site, with my brother waiting for us at the parking area.
My sister in law had joined us in the lot, and aided in our search for A, so she met her husband, and took D's boutineer to him.
My sister in law also alerted everyone that the bride had finally arrived, and they made ready.
The wedding proceeded perfectly. Well, except for the million mosquitoes which were voraciously attacking us.
The boys had ignored my sister's note, and no bug spray or fogger had been brought to the site.
Because of the rain, and the fact that it had been a wet summer, the mosquitoes were worse than I had ever seen them. They were landing on faces, and necks, and scalps, and getting under skirts, and biting through clothes.
It was horrendous.
BHD had a big straw hat with her, and she was constantly using it to fan away bugs.
My sister in law had a bad reaction to all of the bites, and was unable to attend part of the reception!
I will not go into detail about the ceremony, other than to say that the sun broke through and shined on us at highly pertinent moments. The words spoken were powerful and evocative. The ceremony itself was sacred and perfect!
hobbitt took wonderful photographs, which can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidlabs/sets/72157606195493833/
and by 12:30 or so pm, on July 12, 2008, D and I were husband and wife!!
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