What a day it was 09/01/00

 another wrong date/right day posting

Another hot and steamy day today.  It is such different weather from what we had 11 years ago.  Of course, even if it had been as uncomfortable as this weather, I might not have noticed. 

The day before John and Elsa's wedding paired a lot of events with a relaxed attitude.  Elsa had a certain mental image in her mind of what she wanted her wedding to be like and Saturday reflected it.

I remember when Elsa got a letter from Peggy soon after she and John had announced their engagement.  I was napping in my room and she sat down to read it to me.  She had hoped they could make it from Missouri to the wedding, but was prepared to understand if they could not. 

"They're coming!" she yelped. 

Continuing to read, she practically leapt out of her chair.  "And Jim and

Renee are coming!!!"  And a few seconds later, "And so is Karen, from Reno."  We did a little dance of joy around the bedroom, we were both so stunned and excited. 

All of the Peddicords came and all of the Ripleys, even David.  The Ripleys had not seen Karen Peddicord Jackson, who lives in Nevada, for many many moons and ended up flying on the same plane all the way from San Francisco without realizing they were in the same cabin with a Reynolds clan cousin. 

Saturday was filled with family and friends and magical moments.  We had a happy breakfast with the Peddicords.  Jim & Renee and their girls and Karen were all staying at the nearby Marriott, but Jack & Peggy were camped out right across the street from our house, at Donnette and Garth Glenn's (they gave us the use of the hall since they were at the shore that weekend). 

Elsa put the finishing touches on the nibblings and sippings she would serve that afternoon at a tea honoring her bridesmaid's and all the women who had done so much work on her wedding.  She was unusually calm.  She  also put the finishing touches on the Groomsmen's Party that would be held at the same time across the street.  She was a busy lady.

I cannot remember a single thing about the rehearsal.  I know I was there but nothing comes to mind.  After the rehearsal came the tea party and I do remember a lot about that.  So many women and, of course, her four bridesmaids, all under 21  - Whitney, who was her maid of honor:  Karen, who was her senior bridesmaid;  Mackenzie Pitcairn, dear to our hearts since she was born;  and Jamie Reeves, one of the children Elsa "baby watched" over the past few years.  Not a one was from Bryn Athyn, PA - Whitney was in her 2nd year at Barnard in NYC, Karen hailed from Australia, Mackenzie lived in Iowa and Jamie was just "down the street" in Jenkintown. 

It was a happy, humming group.  Elsa had ordered a beautiful cake from her favorite bakery - Bredenbeck's in Chestnut Hall.  Peter, who did an incredible job of being everywhere he needed to be plus a few places more, picked up the cake that morning along with a generous assortment of breakfast goodies the bride had ordered from Rolling in Dough at the Farmer's Market.  He was surprised at how many of the vendors asked him to give the happy couple their best wishes. 

It was a beautiful, 2-tiered cake.  My favorite moment was when Elsa had the four girls join her in cutting cut the first piece, which she gave to yours truly. 

Each of the girls were given a book - Ophelia's World for Whitney, A Little Princess for Mackenzie, A Secret Garden for Karen, and whatever it was she got for Jamie - and a special box, each carefully picked out for each girl.  Each of the women received a Christmas ornament that Elsa had spent hours picking out, tailoring each gift to its recipient.

Even all these years later, I still feel gypped that while I took a nap after the party, Peggy, Karen and Elsa hightailed it across the street to the men's party and had a wonderful time. 

Supper was take out - a Chinese banquet.  John went to pick it up from China Bowl in Rockledge and Pam opted to go with him, to get a better idea of this fellow.  While they were gone, the rest of us watched a video made earlier that summer of Peggy & Jack's 40th (I think it was their 40th) surprise anniversary party out in Missouri.

How well I remember that Midwest weekend.  The guests were squirreled away where Peggy & Jack wouldn't spot us.  The night before the party, we all gathered for steamed crabs which friends from Baltimore had flown out.  The video said it all - while everyone around me were talking back and forth, there I was, happily picking my way through a great heap of crab.  It was so much fun to watch the video with the whole family around, the Peddicords and myself giving a running commentary.

One of my all-time favorite photos was taken by Elsa that evening.  It is of Peter, Peggy and I, dishing out the Chinese food and laughing with complete happiness.  It is a marvelous picture and captures the feeling of the evening. 

I almost forgot that Robert and Sue Smith, our neighbors, had us over earlier in the evening for cocktails.  The whole of "Smithville" was in fine fettle. 

I called our cluster of abodes "Smithville" because Julie & Eunice Smith, Willie Smith,  Phil & Mina Smith, and "Po" & Sue all shared our driveway.  Smithville indeed.

Eleven years later, am still smiling at the memory of so much love and easy happiness.  That time felt and feels like it was other worldly, a gift to us all from a heavenly, all-present Guest.  Everyone made it happen and everyone seemed touched by its beauty and spiritual grace.  I was, and am, blessed to have been part of it. 

I remember Lockharts and Peddicords and one Murphy lolling around the living room that night, having a high old time.  John's best man was there, too.   

It was another happy, happy day - and the best was yet to come.

Am off to what I am sure will be happy slumbers - Mrs. Raymond Lewis Lockhart