Beyond the Looking Glass

As with most big events there were some bumps in the road so to speak. All in all a success, however. We drove down to NC in our Volvo wagon, as it could hold the 4 cases of wine and assundry suitcases, dresses etc. Trip down went w/o a hitch.

My sister Jane arrived safely from CA with my niece the next evening and we spent Thursday running around doing last minute stuff. As you know a heat wave was in full swing along the east coast…Rachel (my daughter) and Paul flew into Charlotte - about an hour away - and about 10 miles from the airport our Volvo stalled out. It does not do well in high heat. Something about the fuel pump. Well we pulled off the highway and luckily we had some ice in the car and applied ice to the heat pump under the car. Picture my DH on his back on the hot asphalt under the car while traffic is zooming by. The car recovered and we picked up R and P. and made it back to the hotel ok. Phew.

The next day my other sister was due in to the Greensboro airport at 10:00. So Janie and I went to the airport and discovered the plane was delayed ..so we had a nice hour-long chat and when the plane finally came in - no Leslie and Dan! They were not even listed as passengers. Well, I panicked, called Len to see if he could help and then my sister decided to pray. As soon as we were done praying, my phone rang and it was Len…He said…”I’m going to strangle you, Lyn…you had the wrong itinerary printed out…they are not due in until 1:30.” Well, my sister chalked it up to God’s work and said he wanted us to have an hour together to talk…maybe.

Well, everyone made it there ok…we had a great pre-wedding dinner at the Bone Fish Grille - (I highly recommend it).

The morning of the wedding we went to the Farmer’s Market and got 7 vases worth of gorgeous flowers from an oriental vendor who let us pick out colors. (Pinks, whites, and hot pinks). Then the women folk went up to the wedding site (a room at a park where we had anticipated having the actual wedding outside on the terrace). Well it was already 98 degrees so we decided to have the wedding inside a screened in porch along the back of the patio. At least there were ceiling fans and it was covered. We set up chairs, and decorated for about 3 hours with lights, garlands, lots of organza bows etc. Came out great. We finished by three and the wedding was at 6 so my friend Carol and I drove back to the hotel to rest and change. We used her GPS to guide us back through the city - no problem. I had instructions to be back at the wedding site by 5 pm for photos and to help Sarah dress.

Well 4:45 arrives and the rest of our car load is late. We finally headed off by 5 and promptly got lost! Horribly lost. Our GPS would not tune in and we could not make head or tails of the map. We asked directions and when we followed them, the highway entrance was closed due to paving. Meanwhile the minutes are ticking away…5:20, 5:30…finally we recognize the correct road and head north toward the park. Carol, who left 30 minutes after us, pulls up behind us and then - have you guessed what happened…the car stalls out again…remember it hates the heat and by this time it’s 100 degrees. We can’t get it started so Carol loads me, my husband and my sister into her car and rushes us up the 3 miles to the wedding. In the meantime my poor daughter is frantic…where are my parents??? I want my mother! Well the wedding does eventually take place about 25 minutes late. The car is driven back by our good friend Tom - who misses the cerimony.

The party was in an air conditioned room with great food, champagne and kareoke. (However you spell it.) We had a great time and Sarah was beautiful if I do say so myself!
On the way home the next day the car konked out twice and we gave away our extra wine to anyone who helped us.

here are some pictures

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