Since I didn’t need to be at Edgewater until 1:30 (a last minute rehearsal with brother B- who made just in time for dinner the night before) I enjoyed a leisurely morning reading & napping before getting dressed for the celebration. I showed up promptly & we quickly went through the set one last time before heading to the dining room. As I arrived, the decision was made to move the wedding inside, so there a flurry of activity going on; I wisely found an out-of-the-way seat inside the lodge. While others ranted, ran around, & generally freaked out, this is what I did:

Every so often, someone looking frantic would wander over, have a seat to catch their breath, & get caught up watching this lace shawl form itself on my needles; each person would eventually walk away calm & quiet- I like to think this was my contribution to the day (beside singing, of course.)  

We sang our songs, some people actually listened, & then the ceremony started (on time, no less!). Once the bride walked past, I elbowed my way through the crowd of standing guests to take my seat with the family, so I was able to witness everything up close. I’ve put several shots in the photo album “Canada Trip” (on my MSN space “meg’s garden“), but I wanted to share my two favorites here.

This is “Reverend” Mike, my brother’s friend from college & the wedding’s the officiator; I think he is quite fetching with his bouquets. Actually, he is providing an important service; in Canada, a marriage commissioner must attend each wedding & “signing the documents” is a part of the ceremony; Rev. Mike is assisting the bride & her witness while they sign the certificate. This is my favorite photo of the day:

I love the huge smile on my brother’s face, while his serenely smiling bride looks on; it was a funny, touching day & well worth the hassles to get there.

The reception was wonderful, with great food (salmon or pesto-stuffed chicken), humorous toasts, shared memories, & lots of music & dancing. The weather even cooperated long enough for the pictures to be taken outside by the lake, while the guests snacked on hors d’oeuvres & searched for a peek of the glacier on the mountain. The festivities broke up around 11:00, with the “younger” crowd heading down to Whistler Village to party into the wee hours, while the wiser ones toddled off to sleep.

The 59^th St Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy),

 Dream (Everly Brothers),

In my Life (the Beatles),

 & Sea of Love;

one vocal for the processional- Over the Rainbow- & then an instrumental version of Feeling Groovy as the bride walked down the aisle. If you are wondering what input the bride & groom had in this process- your guess is as good as mine; the only song I know for sure my brother chose was the Beatles’ song, because he gave me a CD with mixed songs (& I do mean mixed – from Johnny Cash to Bob Dylan to the Beach Boys) the week before. We are dealing with a couple of really laid back people, so I don’t think it mattered too much one way or another- they trusted the “experts” to make it sound good. Afterwards, we all trekked down to locate Wildwood Raquet Club, the restaurant for the dinner being hosted that evening by our parents, then I peeled off to explore the Whistler Marketplace. It was like wandering through an Alpine village, with winding pedestrian-only lanes & Whistler Mountain as a backdrop; I got lost for about two hours before going over to Cedar Springs Lodge, the B & B where I was staying. I checked into my room just in time for tea (homemade banana nut bread) & then took a little nap before meeting everyone for dinner. The dinner was awesome- a buffet with salad, fresh rolls, red potatoes, mixed vegetables, steak & salmon, & then cheesecake or chocolate mousse cake with fresh berries, plus an open bar & wine at every table. Mother had life-sized photo cutouts of D & W all over the room, plus pictures on the tables of each family over the years & those who were missing or gone; the popular activity (after sufficient alcohol was partaken) was having silly pictures taken with the cut outs. Michael, as both best man & father of the groom, gave a humorous speech (fortunately lacking in graphic medical humor- he is a urologist & surgeon, & likes to joke about his work) & Mother was particularly restrained, simply greeting everyone & thanking them for making the trip up to Canada for this event. I learn later that D’s only request of Mother for the weekend was that she was calm & didn’t give any speeches (you might remember that our Mother is a highly functional bi-polar, but does tend to get wound up over big events.) I think D & W were surprised at the number of people who came for the wedding- there were 25 members of the immediate families & around 50 or so friends of both of them, some coming from as far away as Hong Kong & Dubai. I called it a night around 10:00, driving back to the B & B with my uncle Jim & his wife Elizabeth from New Mexico, who were staying at the same place; we had a brief nightcap (tea & decaf coffee) & quiet visit before going to bed, falling asleep to the sound of rain against the leaves. (I will be posting some pictures as soon as I get to sit down at my own computer- I’ve had commitments every evening since I’ve been home)

Next time: Vows & Gondolas  

But first- an anecdote, a cautionary tale of being too prepared: the night before I left, I was having trouble sleeping- kept going over things in my head- so I finally got up around 2:00, remembering that I hadn’t left an itinerary for the guys or a list of things the Sam needed to take care of while I was away (if it’s not in writing, he’ll forget). I went to the computer to type it up, needing to go on the internet to get some of the addresses & phone numbers; while I was there, I figured I’d best print up another copy of my passport application status page, in case the one I had got lost or damaged. That’s right- my passport didn’t arrive, although I submitted the application 14 weeks prior to my trip (& still isn’t here )- so in order to get back in the country I needed my photo id & application status page. So, anyway, I’m on the State Dept website, double checking to see if I need anything else, where I’m directed to make sure I comply to the entry requirements of the country I’m entering. Big mistake. It’s 2:30 am & I’m leaving the country in 5 hours- but I look anyway & see in big, bold letters;

 “Passport or gov’t issued id with certified copy of birth certificate”.

Which is in my safe deposit box.

At the bank.

Which opens at 9:00.

An hour after I take off.

There has to be a mistake; how could I have missed that? I call the airline carrier that I’ll be flying- she reads the same thing I did. I call the State Dept hotline- they are closed for another two hours. I call the airport customs dept- they tell me the US requirements, but can’t be certain of the Canadian regulations. I call the airline carrier that I booked with- she says there shouldn’t be any problem- just bring what I have & plead ignorance if they fuss on the other end. Great. A fifty-fifty chance of being deported on my first visit to Canada. This will be a favorite story in my family for years to come, especially as I’m acknowledged as the smart one.

I fill Chris in on the situation & formulate a plan as we drive to the airport; my youngest brother won’t be arriving in Vancouver until 5:00 that evening, so Chris will drive back home, get my birth certificate, & go into work. If I have a problem at customs in Canada, I’ll call him- he will meet my brother & give him my paperwork, which he’ll bring along to get me out of the Canadian version of the Pokey. It’s all good. Either that, or go home, get it myself & drive to Vancouver. Not my favorite idea, but I can’t miss my brother’s wedding- who knows when one of them will ever do something so conventional again!

So, I get to the airport, hike a quarter mile into the terminal through a maze of construction detours, & check in at the counter; my paper work is checked, stamped, & boarding pass issued. No questions, no problems; maybe this ignorance thing will work. I have to wait a couple of hours & manage to get a little sleep before boarding the flight; two hours later, I’m landing in Vancouver, & my stomach starts doing the merengue. While I weaving my way through the long queue at customs, I start getting the cold sweats- I’m certain that I looked terribly guilty & any minute, sirens & lights will go off & armed officials will be surrounding me. Finally, it is my turn; I hand the woman all my papers- she squints up at me, unsmiling, then asks me the purpose of my visit. I say I’m here for a wedding, then some sightseeing- I babble a bit about my first trip alone, my brother getting married for the first time at 39, that I’m originally from Texas- you know, stupid nervous rambling. Next thing I know, she’s handing me my papers & pointing to the left, saying “You go over there” & I’m done.

Wow- that was easy. I promptly find a bathroom (nerves affect me that way) & then call Chris to tell him everything is fine. He answers on the second ring, listens quietly, then says, “That’s good news, because I can’t find your birth certificate.”

WHAT?

“Are you sure? It’s in the envelope marked Birth Certificates.”

“I have the entire box here (he was still at the bank) & I’ve looked through everything- it’s not here.”

Another wave of cold sweats- this could have been soooo bad; I apologize to Chris for the wasted trip & tell him not to worry about it- I’ll find it when I get home. After I retrieve my suitcases, I head off into another maze of construction detours (is every terminal on the west coast of North American under construction?) to find the car rental desk & then my hotel for the night. It isn’t until a few hours later, while lying down, trying to rid myself of a stress-induced headache, that I remember where my birth certificate is located.

I had to submit it with my passport application.

I don’t think I’ll tell Chris that part.   

When you travel, you’re looking for a lot of downtime. Vacations are your chance to recoup.
All you need is a scenic spot and plenty of time on your hands. You’ll figure out the rest.
You’re not one to make lots of plans when you travel. You just follow whatever path seems right.

What’s Your Travel Personality?

Hey, kids   

Yes, I’m back & I’m sleepy, so it’s off to bed; I’ll be back tomorrow with the first installment.

G’night.

“Hello. You have reached the desk of Meg, accounting specialist extraordinaire & keeper of the sanity. So sorry to have missed your call- if you run fast, you may be able to catch a glimpse of me in the parking lot, but I would suggest you don’t allow any valuable items or vital limbs to drift between my car & the exit.

As I have blown this Popsicle Stand for the next 12 days, I wish you luck on reaching anybody to assist you; but if you press 210, 407, or any other random combination of three numbers, you may luck out & reach a live person who may or may not know what they are talking about, before having your call transfered back to this message.

After the tone, please leave your name, your phone number, & your detailed plea for help, which I should be able to listen to within 3 to 6 weeks of my return, depending on 1) the size of the pile of crucial, yet uncompleted work to be done, 2) the number of errors made or missed that need to be corrected before the end of the month, or 3) the dubious supposition I will actually return to this loony bin after tasting freedom. Thank you for calling & have a lovely day.”

Well kids, I’m off to British Columbia tomorrow morning at the uncivilized hour 4:30 am (leaving the house, not taking off) & steadfastly avoiding the telephone to get my last minute preparation done. I don’t know what kind of internet access I’ll run across, but I will do my best to check in to see how you all are holding up in my absence. Ta-ta! 

Independent and aloof, you don’t like to be dependent on anyone.And as for other people, you can take them or leave them. You often don’t care.You live your life by your own rules. And you have deep motivations that no one truly understands.Why you would make a great pet: You’re not needy or greedy… unlike other four legged friends.Why you would make a bad pet: You’re not exactly running down to greet people at the doorWhat you would love about being a cat: Agility and freedom

What Kind of Pet Would You Be?

——————————————————————————————

Appetizer
What is your favorite fruit?

This one is tough, especially this time of year when there are so many different fresh fruits available. If I have to choose one, I guess it would be watermelon; I can’t pass it up & will make a meal out of a hunk. 

Soup
Who is someone you consider as a great role model?

My Grandmother Lucy; she lived her life on her own terms- creative, individual, & outspoken- had a natural, deep relationship with God, & made serving others a lifestyle without short-changing herself.

Salad
If you were to spend one night anywhere within an hour of your home, where would you choose?

Another tough one; we live within an hour of many awesome places here in Central California. I’m torn- either the Queen Anne Hotel in San Francisco, or The Foxes B&B in Sutters Creek.

Main Course
Name something you do too often.

Procrastinate- my absolute worst failing

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I really like ___________ because ____________.

I really like to spend time exploring parks & gardens, because it helps me to quiet my mind & refresh my spirit.

Since I started blogging three months ago today, I figured it was time to tell you about me. So, I humbly submit my version of “101 Things About Lil’ Old Me”

1. I arrived in this world April 1963
2. I was born in Austin, Texas
3. My family are long-time Texans; Dad’s family arrived in 1840, Mother’s in 1665
4. My older brother & I are the first generation to be raised outside of Texas
5. My parents divorced when I was a year old
6. Yes, it did effect my relationships with men
7. Mother & I moved to California in 1965
8. Dad & my brother moved to New Mexico
9. I would like to visit Austin, since I have no memory of it
10. The name I answer to is not meg
11. meg is an acronym of my legal name
12. I like my natural name- I just like the anonymity better
13. I have 3 brothers & 2 sisters
14. I’m the second oldest
15. But everyone treats me like the oldest
16. I was always a serious child
17. My dad said I was born an old lady
18. I’ve gotten younger as the years go by
19. I have Chris to thank for that
20. I’m really a shy person
21. People laugh at me when I say that
22. I’ve been known to talk the hind leg off a donkey
23. But only around people I know
24. I have a dry sense of humor
25. I can also be very sarcastic
26. I don’t think this is always a good thing
27. But it is how I’m wired
28. I grew up in Berkeley, with my mom, step-dad & 3 younger siblings
29. No, we were not hippies
30. I do remember the student riots & smell of tear gas
31. We were rather well-to-do
32. We children weren’t aware of this
33. I was the only one of my siblings to go to public school
34. My step-dad & I didn’t get along when I was growing up
35. When I was 16, I moved to Kansas to live with my Dad & brother
36. It was a good thing- I didn’t know my Dad very well
37. I met my first husband 3 months after I moved to Kansas
38. Yes- I’ve been married twice
39. I met both my husbands in the same year- Chris in Feb & the other in Dec
40. I got married when I was 19
41. It wasn’t a bad marriage, just not a good one
42. We had 2 children- Robb & Jessica
43. My first husband is a nice man, but not the right one for me
44. I was divorced a week before I turned 25
45. I married Chris 4 months & 10 days later
46. It was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken
47. It was the best decision I ever made
48. We lived with my mother-in-law for the first 18 months of our marriage
49. Fortunately, I love my mother-in-law
50. I raised my daughter & my ex-husband raised Robb
51. It was the most difficult choice I ever made
52. I still second guess myself about that decision
53. Ultimately, I think it was the right one- Robb is a terrific man
54. It took me 2 years to get pregnant with Sam
55. I had a lot of problems during that pregnancy
56. I gave birth- naturally- to a 10lb 1oz, 23 inch long baby
57. We wanted another child, but the doctor didn’t think it would be a good idea
58. I didn’t think it was such a good idea either
59. I love my children, but sometimes I think I should have stuck to cats
60. I have naturally curly hair
61. It’s short, dark brown & liberally sprinkled w/white
62. I made peace with my hair a long time ago
63. I’m the shortest one in my family
64. I’m the only fat one in my family
65. I’m also the only one in my family without high cholesterol
66. I love to dance
67. I’m a pretty good dancer
68. I love to sing
69. I’m pretty good at that, too
70. I studied French in grade school
71. I studied Spanish in high school & college
72. While I can understand a little French & Spanish, I speak only English
73. This is one of my biggest regrets
74. I have a math brain- I think in numbers & patterns
75. My husband & daughter don’t understand this- they think I’m weird
76. My sons do understand this- they think I’m cool
77. I am intelligent & educated, but I don’t consider myself an intellectual
78. I graduated with a 3.89 GPA
79. I got A’s & B’s without too much effort
80. I have a photographic memory
81. But the lens is getting cloudy
82. I enjoy learning
83. I would like to finish a Bachelor’s degree, but I can wait
84. I’ve always had an active imagination
85. I entertain myself while walking with daydreams, mostly about winning the Lotto
86. Since I rarely remember to play, I can only daydream
87. My favorite color is green, but I rarely wear it
88. My style is rather static- skirts, slacks, loose tops & flats
89. My daughter thinks I look frumpy
90. She’s probably right, but I like being comfortable
91. I need to lose weight
92. My ankles pop & crack every time I walk
93. I have osteoarthritis
94. I mostly ignore it, but it’s getting harder
95. I really want to travel
96. I am a born-again Christian
97. I have been since I was 21
98. I was raised in a family of atheists/agnostics
99. My grandmother taught me about God

100. I’m the black sheep of the family

101. That’s okay with me