Tying the knot

On Saturday we went to a family wedding. They've gotten few and far between of late, as only now are the next generation of cousins getting to be of marrying age. This time it was my wife's cousin, Rachel, who as a four or five year old, danced at our wedding...just a couple of years ago... Now it's her turn, and the chance once again to get members of the extended family together sharing in life's continuing pagent.

Rachel and Joe are both Chiropractors, having just finished school in Iowa, and are now headed to the very remote wilds of Kentucky, taking over part of an established practice that grew so big the current Doctor can't handle the workload of two offices. They are an interesting couple; a bit older than most newly-weds, down-to-earth, pragmatic, and very self-sufficient. They chose Zelienople as their wedding location not out of any love of the place, but because it was centrally located between his home in West Virginia, and hers in east/central Pennsylvania.

The couple selected a spot on a local lake with a picnic pavilion, and access to a cruising house-boat called "Nautical Nature" that is a floating classroom, but can be converted to an event boat very easily. The weather was fantastic, and people came from all over to share in their special day: guys he went to school with at Marshall University, girls she roomed with in two colleges; relatives from as far away as Idaho and a bunch of us who just happened to live nearby.

The whole affair was put together beautifully, and on what I would think was a rather spartan butdget, for which I give them nothing but accolades and applause. Wild flowers decorated everything and were everywhere. The cake was baked by someone in Philadelphia and carted cross country in a van loaded down with dishes and food, but looked magnificent. Rachel's Dad roasted a pig for the occasion, bringing both the roaster and the pig from central PA. There was more food (all of it incredibly delicious) than twice as many of us could have eaten. Laura remarked when we sat down to eat that it looked like the two of us had attended separate parties, as both our plates, though piled high with food, were completely different menus. Even the Marshall boys got in the act, concocting one of the best RUM punches I've had in quite awhile. I think there was even some punch in there.

The bride was gorgeous in a stunning white dress, and the groom solemn and proud, waiting for his future wife to be walked to the alter by her father, resplendent in T-shirt and yellow ball-cap. The official wedding had taken place a few days before, conducted by a Catholic priest, who was so taken by their love and level-headedness, that he waived the usual pre-cana classes most parishes demand these days. So our ceremony was an exchange of public vows before family and friends, and one of the most relaxed, enjoyable weddings I've been too.

Good luck Rachel and Joe! Congratulations on your new life together, and may all your dreams come true!