What a summer it has been.
Daughter's wedding on July 18 was, of course, the highlight. I'll post pictures later. For now, take my word for it that Daughter was a beautiful bride and Wife and I were just as proud as could be.
It was a stifling hot day but, except for a few photos taken outside and some outside areas at the reception venue (that were optional and from which one could return quickly), everything was inside in the air conditioning.
The entire weekend was a joyous occasion. On Thursday night, we had a food truck in our back yard. This was Daughter and SIL's idea and it was a huge hit. This was intended to be for family and wedding party members who arrived early but Daughter told me I should also invite my college friends. They all cam and we had more fun than should be legal.
On Friday there were the bridesmaid luncheon, golf for the male wedding party members and lunch with my college chums. Friday night was the rehearsal dinner hosted by SIL's parents. Both Older Son and Younger Son made toasts to their sister that brought tears to almolst all. Warmed my heart.
The wedding was beautiful and a lovely, spiritual service. The reception was a blast and we danced the night away.
Sunday morning was brunch at our house and we got to visit a little more with friends and family before they headed out.
Our hearts were full to overflowing from start to finish.
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In the midst of all of this I was making a career change. I won't go into the many, many details but will just say I have changed jobs and have gone "back" to the bank that acquired the bank I used to work for from 1998 - 2005. The guy who made this happen is the same one that hired me in Nashville in 1998 and I'm working in his group. I have one week under my belt and so far, so good. I am convinced it's a good move for me.
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Wife and I managed some down time following the wedding. On the Tuesday following, we went to a lake house in north Alabama owned by some dear friends who were gracious enough to offer it to us. We spent that Tuesday afternoon floating on rafts and hardly talking -- just relaxing and unwinding. I spent the next day in Birmingham, about 45 minutes away and the headquarters location for my new employer, in interviews and discussions about my new position.
When I returned late in the afternoon, Wife was again floating on a raft in the lake and she was very relaxed. It was a good way to de-program from all the activity.
We took a quick weekend trip to St. Louis a couple of weeks ago for baseball. Then, not long after that, we flew to Buffalo, NY and drove from there to Niagara Falls. Older Son met us there and from Niagara we drove to Toronto (stopping at a couple of wonderful wineries along the way), and spent the weekend. We went to two baseball games and saw the Blue Jays play the Yankees.
All of these getaways were great, and we especially loved having Older Son go along with us on the Niagara and Canada trip. Thanks so much to DIL for letting him join us while she stayed home and worked!
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We are settling into "normal" again now, whatevcer that is. It's weird to be starting a new job at my age, but it's also really cool to have a fresh start, something that is sometimes needed no matter what stage of life we might find ourselves in.
We're healthy, we're gainfully employed and we have three adult children ( and a daughter-in-law and son-in-law) who we get to see often and who are making their ways in the world.
So thankful for all of that.
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We also recently celebrated 31 years of marriage.
Pretty remarkable somoene could put up with me that long.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
The big day approaches
When FSIL and I had dinner last November and he nervously asked for my blessing as he prepared to propose to Daughter, I knew a wedding would happen eventually.
But at that point in time, getting engaged and getting married seemed like two different things.
I know that makes no sense but sometimes I think I create such defense mechanisms in my mind to keep myself sane.
But it's show time, folks. In ten days I will escort my only daughter down the aisle and I'll answer that question, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
I'm embarrassed to tell you that, when Daughter and I were going through the order of the ceremony recently, we came to that part and she said, "So what are you going to say, Dad?"
In all seriousness, I stated, "My mother and I."
Hand to God.
Wife was not amused.
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So surely by the time the day gets here, I'll be able to recite my one line correctly. Wife told me if I get tongue-tied, I should just nod my head and get out of the way.
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Daughter has suggested we watch "Father of the Bride," the 1991 film with Steve Martin, sometime over the next ten days. I don't know that it's such a good idea. Daughter has always loved that movie and she's watched it countless times in this house. I've watched it a few times myself and have caught bits and pieces here and there when it's been on.
As Daughter grew older, I became more and more emotional during certain scenes. I'm afraid watching it now might push me over the edge, and that's already a pretty short trip.
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Wife and Daughter have been an incredible team during all the planning. They have at times had differences of opinion, but I have seen them get past all that and work together beautifully. They have both enjoyed the process and I'm proud of both of my girls.
We're now enjoying the calm before the storm. Most of the heavy lifting is done and we're trying to savor the few days of relative quiet.
I'll go get Daughter Saturday morning in Huntsville and FSIL will follow a couple of days later. I'm sure next week will fly.
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At the reception, Daughter and I will dance to the climactic waltz from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" ("Tale as Old as Time" as sung by the character Mrs. Potts, voiced by Angela Lansbury). We picked it as our wedding dance years ago, long before there was a wedding on the calendar or a man in the wings waiting to take her.
But now there is a date and a fiancé and it's almost time.
But at that point in time, getting engaged and getting married seemed like two different things.
I know that makes no sense but sometimes I think I create such defense mechanisms in my mind to keep myself sane.
But it's show time, folks. In ten days I will escort my only daughter down the aisle and I'll answer that question, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
I'm embarrassed to tell you that, when Daughter and I were going through the order of the ceremony recently, we came to that part and she said, "So what are you going to say, Dad?"
In all seriousness, I stated, "My mother and I."
Hand to God.
Wife was not amused.
***********************************
So surely by the time the day gets here, I'll be able to recite my one line correctly. Wife told me if I get tongue-tied, I should just nod my head and get out of the way.
**********************************
Daughter has suggested we watch "Father of the Bride," the 1991 film with Steve Martin, sometime over the next ten days. I don't know that it's such a good idea. Daughter has always loved that movie and she's watched it countless times in this house. I've watched it a few times myself and have caught bits and pieces here and there when it's been on.
As Daughter grew older, I became more and more emotional during certain scenes. I'm afraid watching it now might push me over the edge, and that's already a pretty short trip.
********************************
Wife and Daughter have been an incredible team during all the planning. They have at times had differences of opinion, but I have seen them get past all that and work together beautifully. They have both enjoyed the process and I'm proud of both of my girls.
We're now enjoying the calm before the storm. Most of the heavy lifting is done and we're trying to savor the few days of relative quiet.
I'll go get Daughter Saturday morning in Huntsville and FSIL will follow a couple of days later. I'm sure next week will fly.
*****************************
At the reception, Daughter and I will dance to the climactic waltz from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" ("Tale as Old as Time" as sung by the character Mrs. Potts, voiced by Angela Lansbury). We picked it as our wedding dance years ago, long before there was a wedding on the calendar or a man in the wings waiting to take her.
But now there is a date and a fiancé and it's almost time.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Beautiful weekend
We are in the middle of a beautiful weekend here in Middle Tennessee. Today was one of those oh-so-perfect days that to stay inside would have been woefully inappropriate.
Wife has traveled to Little Rock this weekend, so I am on my own. Every once in a while, that is a good thing. I am somewhat of an introvert -- I love people but they make me tired. I can cope very well with a couple of days of semi-isolation. It recharges my batteries.
Wife, on the other hand, is an extrovert and is energized by people. We compliment each other in that way. She keeps me busy and forces me, in a good way, to get out and do things when I might choose to do otherwise. And, at appropriate times, I bring her down to earth and force her to rest when she needs to.
It was pretty cool when I got up this morning -- about 45 degrees. I had thought of a morning run outside but opted, instead, for an indoor spin class at 7:15 a.m. It was a good way to start the day
Last night I had gone to Home Depot and purchased 15 bags of mulch. They are having a great sale -- two bucks a bag. We have a berm out in the front yard that could use some attention, so that is how I planned to spend a good part of the morning after spin class.
I got started about 9:45, after eating breakfast. My next-door-neighbor was also out in the yard so I talked with him for a while. We don't see much of each other during the winter months, so we always catch up once the weather is warmer and we're outside more.
By 11 a.m. I learned that 15 bags was about half as much as I needed. So it was back to Home Depot, where I learned why I had gone last night. It was crazy busy. The line to load mulch was out of control.
I left and decided to take my chances on another store a few miles south. Bingo. It was busy too, but their mulch bags were in a much less congested space, so it was much easier to load them and be on my way. Going to the other store was a good choice.
With 15 more bags loaded in my truck (and what would I ever do without that truck and what will I do when Older Son says he wants it back???), I was back in business. By mid-afternoon I was done.
I watched a little bit of the Masters golf tournament (I am not a golfer but I love the beauty of the golf course at Augusta, GA and appreciate the importance of the tournament), then visited a nearby craft brewery for some late-afternoon refreshment.
I am now trying to finish Edge of Eternity, an 1100-page book that is the third in the Century trilogy by Ken Follett. I will confess that I have not enjoyed it as much as the previous two and I am tired of it, but I must, of course, finish it. I'm down to the last 150 pages.
Wife will be home mid-day tomorrow and I will be glad to see her. I am rested and refreshed and reminded that I am much better with my better half.
Wife has traveled to Little Rock this weekend, so I am on my own. Every once in a while, that is a good thing. I am somewhat of an introvert -- I love people but they make me tired. I can cope very well with a couple of days of semi-isolation. It recharges my batteries.
Wife, on the other hand, is an extrovert and is energized by people. We compliment each other in that way. She keeps me busy and forces me, in a good way, to get out and do things when I might choose to do otherwise. And, at appropriate times, I bring her down to earth and force her to rest when she needs to.
It was pretty cool when I got up this morning -- about 45 degrees. I had thought of a morning run outside but opted, instead, for an indoor spin class at 7:15 a.m. It was a good way to start the day
Last night I had gone to Home Depot and purchased 15 bags of mulch. They are having a great sale -- two bucks a bag. We have a berm out in the front yard that could use some attention, so that is how I planned to spend a good part of the morning after spin class.
I got started about 9:45, after eating breakfast. My next-door-neighbor was also out in the yard so I talked with him for a while. We don't see much of each other during the winter months, so we always catch up once the weather is warmer and we're outside more.
By 11 a.m. I learned that 15 bags was about half as much as I needed. So it was back to Home Depot, where I learned why I had gone last night. It was crazy busy. The line to load mulch was out of control.
I left and decided to take my chances on another store a few miles south. Bingo. It was busy too, but their mulch bags were in a much less congested space, so it was much easier to load them and be on my way. Going to the other store was a good choice.
With 15 more bags loaded in my truck (and what would I ever do without that truck and what will I do when Older Son says he wants it back???), I was back in business. By mid-afternoon I was done.
I watched a little bit of the Masters golf tournament (I am not a golfer but I love the beauty of the golf course at Augusta, GA and appreciate the importance of the tournament), then visited a nearby craft brewery for some late-afternoon refreshment.
I am now trying to finish Edge of Eternity, an 1100-page book that is the third in the Century trilogy by Ken Follett. I will confess that I have not enjoyed it as much as the previous two and I am tired of it, but I must, of course, finish it. I'm down to the last 150 pages.
Wife will be home mid-day tomorrow and I will be glad to see her. I am rested and refreshed and reminded that I am much better with my better half.
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