here's life

Last weekend was spent, very enjoyably, having a wedding. I left work after half a day at work and drove to MO. We got to northern Indiana later the next day after some complications and sleep. But we got there in plenty of time for the rehearsal, and the party began as more and more people arrived. This was going to be a unique wedding. After running through it a couple times, we ate some Mediterranean food and then more hanging out while doing the dishes. Then there was a hanging out in a nice basement. Finally it was time to go to bed. I joined a group of cousins packed into a vehicle with all our stuff piled on top of us. We set off, with a map to our host home, reminiscent of a pirate treasure map. Eventually, after wandering around the nonsensical maze of snowy roads, we got some gas, and some directions to make up for some confusions. Then we drove around enough to know that we weren't going to find it by randomly trying doors at midnight (we only tried one) so we found a payphone and called Sim, the groom, who was where we were trying to get to. While talking to him, a police officer stopped by and tried to help us. And then stopped by again. And then he found my brother, while I was talking to him, and he was trying to find out what road he was on. Using the information from the policeman, we drove over, and didn't find Sim, but did find a policeman, who was a different, confused one when we talked to him. And then my brother showed up and we all got out of the cold, and to bed. We only spent about an hour and a half within a few miles of the house, and I like to think of it as a fun time with cousins.

Saturday morning bright and early we got our clothes ironed and on, and headed over to the church. We got pictures taken and pretty much had everything ready by 10:30 when the wedding was to start. Unlike most weddings, the audience was seated around round tables. When the bridal party went up to the front, we were follow by my two youngest brothers pulling red wagons with the nieces and nephews of the couple in them. There was a short message by the guy that they had trained under and worked with during their time in Reach. They read vows they had written, and then some "repeat after me" ones to top it off. Then short, meaningful blessings/messages were read while the person who wrote them poured colored sand into a vase. It was neat to hear from all these people who had influenced them, and the important things they said. The time closed with all of the family of the couple coming up and praying for them, everybody at once. Then of course the "I present to you.." and Sim scooped up Janelle and went out. There was a slide show, and then the couple went around and dismissed tables for the buffet style breakfast. We ate waffles, lots of waffles, and cinnamon rolls and eggs.

Later, some of the cousins got up and told how that morning on the way to church, his abilities temporarily impaired by love, Sim had driven off the road into a fence, which tore off the bumper of his car. So, they took up a collection, carrying around the bumper as it filled with cash. Then, after counting it up, they couldn't just give it to him, so they paid him $10 per push-up, which he did on the stage, while they counted out the money. Unfortunately, we ran out of money before he tired, and there was no good mechanism for the crowd to give more to keep him going.

Rice kills birds. Birdseed is not a good thing to throw in the foyer of a church as the new couple rushes toward their car, sitting outside in the cold. However, a couple hundred bright plastic balls (ball-pit type) work quite well. Especially when each one is labeled with their names and the date, and they can be taken home as "party favors". (I don't think there was a team doing the labeling, like with Kelly of Troy's thousand ships, poor Janelle)

Well, that party was over, but the after party was just starting over at the very fine basement that we were staying in. There were leftovers and swing dancing, and philosophical discussions answering deep questions (or at least defining them) and practical testing, answering important questions like how well do wheeled toys made of interlocking plastic blocks hold together on a treadmill going ten miles per hour?

Sunday we drove home. I got back to Wichita at 2:30 Monday morning, but didn't really have trouble staying awake at work.
The weekend was a great success, and as usual, it was good to talk to family and get a refreshing idea of what it means to be sane, something that is severely challenged by spending most of the day with people whose values are totally insane.
Now I must go to sleep, so I can go to work and face the craziness with happiness, humor and subtle satire.
Thank you to whoever gave me the seat covers. Cecil looks very spiffy.