Wherein our Author Catches Up

The wedding was beautiful.

But I get ahead of myself.

My parents arrived from Chicago on Sunday the 20th and stayed with us for a week. We put them to work: my Dad was the consummate chauffeur, particularly to the airport as other folks flew in. My Mom did our flowers, and they were fantastic.

My sister flew in from Wisconsin on Wednesday, and Jason from Los Angeles on Thursday.

Pistachio House came to resemble a madhouse. Work on the dresses (hand made) and flowers and all the hundred other little details you don’t think about continued throughout the house throughout the week. At one point we had seven people sleeping under our roof.

There were certainly moments where the whole thing seemed on the verge of coming unraveled. My parents’ rental car got a flat, which was fairly entertaining. Francine and my Mom were in an auto accident – nothing serious, mind, but the car was totaled. Worse, I think, was that Francine’s niece broke her foot while they were cleaning up after the reception.

And don’t get me started on the bells fiasco.

The day of the wedding dawned cold and clear. The gentlemen began the day with a shave at the local barber college, something I heartily recommend to all and sundry. Such luxury! My friend Jason prepared me a delicious breakfast of almost-but-not-quite traditional eggs benedict, and then it was off to prepare the reception venue.

We decided early on a 1920s theme and stuck with it. We wanted to evoke a sort of timelessness, the idea of a moment outside of the normal flow of ordinary things. I think we succeeded – and Fr Bryan’s homily during the Mass spoke to this quite eloquently.

There are literally thousands of photos, so it will take us some time to sort through.

For you liturgy geeks (there’s at least one in every crowd), the ceremony was the Catholic Nuptial Mass according to the Ordinary Use of the Roman Rite with correct chant propers, Kyrie, etc. I made booklets so folks could participate correctly – an important item when most of your friends are not Catholic.

I was ridiculously ill at ease when the Mass started, but the moment I saw Francine, it was as if a veil lifted from my heart. It was easy after that.

The reception was planned mostly by Francine and her “best woman” Mel. Words cannot do justice to the event. You’ll have to wait for the photos.

And there are a lot of them.

Although we are sending out a pile of thank you notes, I would like to take this moment to thank those who attended and shared our joy on the day from the bottom of my heart. I also thank those who wished us well in this forum and others. You folks are beautiful!

Today, I have my first real job interview in months, and I’m very hopeful. Prayers, well-wishes, and general good vibes actively encouraged.