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And we also have a new kitten Molly!

Molly

Aletta looked radiant, Matt was clearly nervous but very happy.

Everything went smoothly, everyone had a great time.

It brought tears to my eyes to look around the room and to see so many people that I love.

I am a bit sentimental, I’ll admit. Seeing the pride and joy on my Uncle Ronnie’s face as he escorted Aletta down the aisle filled me with so much gratitude and love I almost couldn’t stand it.

I felt the same way when I saw my Aunt Ute (in a flowing black suit) running down the meadow to make sure that all the children were included in photos…

Micaela, my other cousin, was really on top of her game. Married life, children, and a fulfilling job agree with her, and have transformed her – she is beautiful, confident, a goddess. Really.

My favorite part of the ceremony was when the married women had a chance to come up and whisper a piece of advice or some other comment into Aletta’s ear. Yes, you know I wasn’t sitting there saying nothing, right? So I whispered, “Remember how much you respect him today. Civility goes a long way. Please and thank you.”

What was even better, in a way, is when the officiant (a very nice woman) said, “We don’t want be discriminatory, so the married men are now welcome to step up to offer a word to Matt.” I somehow think that wasn’t planned. One guy said something very urgently, then stepped back and did that thing where he points to his own eyes and then points to Matt’s eyes. There was good-natured laughter. The room was full of love. The energy of the whole ceremony was terrific.

We were out there on a covered deck, looking out on a meadow worthy of a 19th-century pastoral poet. It was a beautiful day, shining, with a refreshing breeze. Aletta and Matt were beaming, and there were moments of reflection and humor that drew us all in as a community. We really felt that we were there to witness to their bond and to be there to safeguard and help them always.

The reception was fun. I really hit it off with Matt’s aunt Pam, who turns out to be just a couple of years older than me (yikes), a nurse in Durham. We ended up dancing together a bit (how do women in their forties get to dance otherwise, when husbands are not in attendance?). I really like her a lot and we have much in common. Besides, she has those Susan Sarandon eyes that I always love, and a sense of humor that matches mine… Wish I’d gotten a pic of her! We initiated a circle-dance of women around Matt – very tribal and fun.

My brother Roy and Patty danced at almost a professional level, as always, although I couldn’t get the DJ to play the Kinks’ “Come Dancing” – which was always his fave.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and had lots of great conversation, reacquainting myself with several people and also meeting several new people, including a couple of people that I had heard much about but had never had the pleasure to have met before. Everyone was friendly and open. Their company was a balm to my soul.

The only thing I regret was that I didn’t think to try to get a photograph of my extended family there. Roy and I didn’t make it into the group photos, but in my experience those aren’t the ones you look at anyway. I had a camera, and I just didn’t think of trying to get Roy and Patty and me and Aletta and Matt and Micaela and Michael and Katy and Alex and Ron and Ute all into a photo.

Both Aletta’s wedding and Micaela’s wedding were wonderful, but I have to admit that I enjoyed this one more. I was more relaxed (and it probably didn’t hurt that I wasn’t pregnant!).

I am so proud of my dear cousins. I am so proud of you, dear women of my heart.

Thank you, thank you to the whole clan. You rock, and I love you.

(More photos)

Here’s video from Chattanooga, TN.

Post links to more photos, if you know of some.