The weekend started off with a lovely road-trip. Stewart drove, Hamilton rode shotgun, and I napped and watched the scenery go by, and we all listened to “Reaper Man” on tape. We took the small back highways, #9 a lot of the way. Stopped and looked up a bronze Scotsman’s kilt at Hamilton’s alma mater (St. Andrews), ate at “Subs and Cream” – took our time.
We arrived late that afternoon, claimed beds (I got the same one I had last year – next to the window, facing the dock) and then we IMMEDIATELY went swimming! Woohoo! By the time we got out of the water, other folks had started arriving. Not long after that, we got the blender going, and then it was just GeekFest 2003! We sat around and “jawed” and laughed and b.s.’ed, and then everybody turned in to get some sleep before the Big Day.
The next morning came, and the weather looked as if it had been ordered with the cake. I slept with my head at the foot of my bed, next to the window and awoke to cerulean sky filled with fat white clouds, and just enough breeze. We all ambled up to the Doarway for pancakes and bacon, and then went for showers. No one had to rush, and we all made it in plenty of time. I rode with Lisa and Wendi to the beach, ogling hotties fishing below the drawbridge and looking forward to all the surprises the day had to offer. We found a good parking spot, just yards from the boardwalk.
When we got there, people were already gathering. By the time we (the photographers) had picked the spot, Brian came strolling down the beach, all golden curls and halogen grin in his khaki kilt and white shirt - he was GORGEOUS! He was greeted by circles of hugs and pats on the back, and then amidst the congratulations, someone said “Here she comes!” We all turned, and were greeted by a vision that I will never forget*.
As Andi came down the boardwalk, it was like an eclipse of the sun. I thought there could be nothing in the world more radiant – until I turned to look at Brian, watching her come toward us. She was wearing a white gauze dress, sleeveless and sheer, her feet were bare and brown, her auburn hair shimmering with sunlight. She had on a little circlet of flowers, with a very simple veil at the back, but everything, all of it, paled in comparison to the glowing beauty of her face. I do not exaggerate – as anyone there can verify. She looked like an angel**, her smile was incomparable, unforgettable.
The ceremony started, with Xavier as the acting minister***. Andi’s dad read a poem, and the vows were sweet, simple – and quick. I could tell that they meant them, too - ok, except maybe that part about the Mormons... and we were all reminded that a big church and a satin dress and a 15,000$ reception does NOT necessarily = twue wuv.
After the wedding (and the kazoo-march and lots of happy tears and bubbles), we all got into our swimwear and played on the beach for a few hours. (I did a commemorative sand-sculpture. Pics of ALL of this soon, folks, I promise!)
After the beach, we all wandered back to the Doarway. Some napped, some started working on the food for the reception, and some made some FABulous tea… I got ALL the ladies glittered up, Elizabeth manned the blender, and At around 4:00, the yard started filling up with beaus and belles.
There was MUCHO seafood on to boil, there was a johnboat full of coolers, laden with ice and beer and sodas. People mingled and chattered, and then Buffy called for toasts. The dads did their thing – more tears were shed, and then Buffy brought out the quilt we’d all made.**** That evoked the worst – but thankfully LAST of the serious waterworks for the weekend - and finished the toasts, 'cause Pam said NObody could follow THAT act! Then someone yelled “FOOD’S READY!” and the hoe-down began!
We ate and drank and made veryvery merry. The Whiskey Sisters sang a few, Mike picked the gee-tar, Hamilton rocked the flute, I even played a bit o’ bad kazoo. People sat on the grass and sang along… and then, when the full moon began to rise, we all meandered down to the dock for a bit of moonlight skinny-dipping! Woohoo! Later, while I was working in the kitchen, Will came and gave me a big skwunch. He said that I was officially a cousin now. (MOO!) I thought it was because I’d been there twice, and was helping to clean, but it turns out that it was because I’d made it an Official Weekend by initiating the drunken skinny-dip. Yay, me!
After the swim, we headed back up and began the big clean up. It was just like the rest of the day, though. A joy to be there, to be together, to be helping – we pretty much literally whistled while we worked. After the clean-up, we peeled out some shrimp and made other plans for breakfast, then we slowly wound our way into bed.
Most of us were up pretty early(!), made a store run and started breakfast. Will and I whipped up a batch of shrimp (SKRUMP!) and grits, Buffy cut cantaloupe and got some coffee going. Breakfast was good, and so was the company. Everybody reviewed the weekends’ highlights and told party-tales, and then we started dividing up the work roster and went off to pack.
No one wanted to leave – who would? The weekend, the wedding had all been golden and perfect. No more than Our Bribro and Andi (BrAndi) deserve. We – the ladies circle – debated shuffling the boys around in cars and sending them on ahead so that we could linger longer, but I think we all knew at the back of our minds that if we stayed we might be tempted to get jobs as waitresses and just live on the beach.
Sigh.
So, we packed up, hugs all ‘round, and the traditional Doarway song to send us off…
The road trip home was pleasant. Watching the highway roll up from flat and open back to hills and the sky close in on itself was the worst heartbreak I’d had in days… We finished “Reaper Man”, had some good conversation. Stopped at “SOUTH OF THE BORDER” (I bought a satin Chinese hat) and for photos at a day-lily farm. I think we were all reluctant to return to the “real world”…

Andi and Brian thanked us again and again for coming, for our help, for the gifts. But I think WE got the best present of all from them. A perfect, happy weekend, all together. Laughs and food and happy tears, good weather, sand, surf, company, and the chance to be witness to a truly good thing.
Thank you, and Goddess bless you. May we all get together like this, for manymanymany years to come.
-s

p.s. there were a couple of folks who should have been there, but just couldn’t. you were missed, but I PROMISE you were well represented!

*I am getting a bit teary just remembering!
**admittedly, one who knows how to have FUN!
***I am STILL trying to process the reality of THAT! :D
****AND kept secret! QUILT! QUILT! QUILT! QUILT! I can finally say it! QUILT!

Ok, I know you all want to hear about my fabulous weekend at the most wonderful, perfect wedding I have EVER attended - and fear not, I will tell all - but first, I must amend a TERRIBLE oversight.
I was SO excited about my trip that I forgot what June 12 was, in the "real" non-sun/sand/surf world of Sam and Saluda...
You see, Once Upon a Time, there was this boy*, a boy that I loved to the point of stupidity, but hey, what’s love all about if not giving in to a little stupidity sometimes, y’know? He was one Helluva a boy, and damned near a match for me – and that’s sayin’ something. Things didn’t work out, but that seems to be the fate of my Things anyway, so no SERIOUS biggie, but for a while there, it seemed like they might. It definitely seemed like we – and quite a few others - wanted them to. That’s sayin’ something, too. The simple fact that they DIDN’T work out (and rather dramatically, I might add) and yet we are still friends and still concerned for one another says the most of all.
So today not long after I hauled my sunburned heiney into work, I get a semi-sad call from said boy reminding me that what I’d forgotten in my excited rant on Thursday was that it was his birthday!
I told him that, at thirty(gasp!) NINE(!) you’d think you’d WANT people to forget ;) but I was really touched that he didn’t want ME to forget, and most of all that he reads my rants.
I know you SAID you didn’t want belated wishes here Red, but you deserve them. You are – and will always be – veryvery close to my heart**. Happy birthday (to you and your girlbaby). I wish you all many more good years and happy times.
And thank you for reading and reminding.
MUCH love,
-s
p.s. did anybody remember to get you cherries?

*"a very strange, enchanted boy…"
- and don't go givin' me !@#$ about saying "boy", red - you KNOW what I mean! :)
**even if you are WAAAAAAAY too old for me now! Hahahaha! ;D