Anne and David got married!
December 12, 2008
| The Wedding Vows | Pictures |
As the invitations read, it was all Debra's fault, but we have forgotten why. Oh yeah, she wanted to come spend the night on her way to turkey in Southern CA. That meant we needed to spiff up the front bedroom. That meant a new bed, hopefully a couch bed. So, we went shopping after church and Sunday breakfast. During breakfast, John called to let Anne know he was shipping out for boot camp Dec 15th. Jena and her hubby Drew, were coming on Dec 10th for Drew's grannie's funeral on the 13th. While shopping, there was this couch we fell in love with, and we always wanted to replace the torn up, tired green couch. Well, since we are doing all this, why don't we go ahead and get married now, instead of May, while both John and Jena were home. Lord knows the next time we would have them home at the same time! So we only have a short time, let's see if we can do this.
The house is all decorated for Christmas, more foo-foo than normal (Anne has promised David this won't happen again, honest) and our closest friends have managed to take the day off, despite the last minute announcements. Hey, we always wanted to say, "We are getting married in an hour, we are in levis, bring your own bottle," so we did. We did add a few things, like bring a Santa hat (Jena's idea) and all we want is our presence, not your presents. Thanks to Kim, Brooke and Trey for helping to get the house in order! A tall order in such a short period of time.
The house is decorated, our silly Christmas people, garland and poinsettia flowers greet you at the porch. A fire in the fireplace, poinsettias everywhere, gold Christmas bells and silver garland over the fireplace to appease Jena's need for wedding decors. Even the dogs head to the groomer, returning with Christmas scarf collars! It's even going to be the fullest full moon of the year, Jupiter and Venus are still in conjunction in the southern sky. Poifect.
Three women who were at Anne's first wedding, twenty-six long years ago, wander in early afternoon; Pai, Cheryl and Debra. Cheryl and Pai are John and Jena's godmothers, we were all Amfacies, too, back in the 70's, Anne and Pai were friends in high school, through the rock n roll band years and ever since. Kerry, a good and recently re-found friend from high school appeared not long after. Guests arrive all afternoon, and it is starting to get a tad crowded in our tiny 1400 square foot house. Since all my beloved age old San Jose friends are finally meeting all my new beloved Merced friends, it's getting a bit complicated, too, so Anne starts writing up name tags. "Jay - Minister and Orbette" "Julie - Jay's Mum and Orbette" "Gary - Best Man and DL's Hubby" "DL - Local cop (Smoke in the garage)" All the kids (Jena, Drew, Amanda, Cody, Ryan, John, Stacie) and some of the old friends I won't name here kept filing out of the house to go into the garage, leaving the house almost empty. It was truly hilarious. Drew's name tag read "Drew - Jena's Hubby and Dead Meat" because he drove up to the wedding in his brand new motorcycle, the one he JUST purchased without consulting his wifie. Oooooooh!
At six, Anne changes into a white shirt, levi skirt and new moccasin boots, David and Gary are in white shirts and Levi's, and we gather at the fireplace. Jay, our local wiccan and Orbette is doing the ceremony so Gary, who does all our local weddings, can stand as best man. Jena is the maid of honour in a red sweater, levi's and a Santa hat.
Anne stood to David's right, as they sleep, eat, walk or stand, instigating calls of, "Wrong side!" throughout the room. Nope, we doing this OUR way, guys. Jay broke down (almost) a few times during the ceremony while she tried to ignore the fire crisping her behind. We messed up with the rings in that Jena was holding Anne's, not David's. All in all, it was lovely, and done our way. Even the rings fit! Anne had purchased cigars for the bands in case the customer rings (matching silver celtic knot rings) didn't come in from Scotland - the smoke store owner will remember her visit for a while.
Blessed Glori (David's oldest, now my step-daughter, gulp, please don't call me Mom, ok? Lol!) brought the most exquisite cake made by Debbie/Linda, and her specialty chocolate mice. Check out what they did with the mice!! We cut the cake, but there was no cake-in-the-face. David's daughter, Kristi, sent Micky Mouse hats wedding from Disneyland, Joyce and Wayne brought lovely matching Mr and Mrs coffee mugs. Tinkie sent a lovely poem she wrote that made us smile that day! Food overflowed as usual. Pictures later showed orbs were about, no surprise!
The rest of the evening was, in a word, delightful. Sam "Daughter #2" made it, along with Kim and Doug, and Joyce and Wayne. Christie "Massage Therapist - the reason Anne is standing" was voted the newbie, but she fit in like she had known us all for years, just as we knew she would. The guestbook had "Finally" and "About Time" written quite a few times. We missed our families, and some very special friends who could not make it, BUT, we are still planning the big shin-dig May 30th!
All the San Joseans spent the night at the local hotel, returning for a long morning of coffee and breakfast. A most wonderful, wonderful weekend, the perfect wedding, made incredibly special because of those who were able to attend at such short notice, people very dear to our hearts and our lives. Thank you, each and everyone, for a memory to last a lifetime.