Amber's Wedding

Last Saturday Amber Beauregard became Amber Rainwater in the most nonreligious, nonspiritual wedding ceremony I have ever attended. She had a beautiful white dress and she looked like she was a model for a "Wedding Magazine". Duane walked her down the isle and he looked like a Grand Duke. I believe some pictures will be shown on Facebook.

The ceremony was held outside in wonderful weather. It was on a hillside overlooking a lake, attendees had to walk down a steep hillside to get to the seating area. That walk was difficult for the ladies with high heels and treacherous for one old, heavy lady who fell and rolled down the hill. She was helped up, escorted back up the hill, and we did not see her again. The traditional music for the bride's walking in was not played and I did not recognize what was played.s

A "sand ceremony" (presumably from Indians in the Southwest) was accomplished by Amber, Philip, and his four year old daughter, Grace. Yes, Amber can be called Mom already. They each poured a quantity of colored sand into a glass signifying the beautiful pattern that can be attained in their lives together. A reference was made about South Pacific peoples by the minister but it went over my head. He pronounced them man and wife, they kissed. After this ceremony we ascended the hill for the festivities.

This building was made for weddings: a magnificent view, large parking lot, very large deck for drinks and Hors D'oeuvres, inside is a large dance floor and many tables for dining. It easily handled the 130 guests there. A sturdy, discardable plate for food with beautiful silverware was used. An announcement was made to save the silverware and discard only the plate. Both beef and chicken were available. The caterers did a great job with the food. I had erroneously believed that Phillip's Mother and his Aunt did the cooking because it was they that cooked for the Rehearsal Dinner on Friday. At that event, the pulled pork was better than we find in local restaurants of renown.

The DJ was well known to Phillip, he had played at his first wedding. Some joked with him about his having a punch-card and getting the fourth one free. During the first part of the evening I recognized what was being played, even some of the line dances. Later, a form of music was played that only allowed jumping and arm waving.This made some participants ecstatic in joy and stimulated sweat glands to overproduce. There were the few, obligatory young children on the dance floor who more than seldom rolled and slithered on the floor. Also noticed were two seventeen year-olds who danced every single dance. They were remarkable for hitting every beat, no matter how fast, on one foot or the other, sometimes breaking out into air guitar. I believe they were imports from whatever South Pacific Island the minister had mentioned. What they did had nothing to do with any type of dance from Western Civilization.

Wedding outcome: Phillip has a second wife, Amber becomes an instant mom, Duane and Debbie have a second grandchild, Pat and I have an additional great-grandchild for a total of twelve.

We hosted a Sunday morning breakfast in the Condo and had 24 people attend. Debbie brought some of the Wedding leftovers and it turned into a brunch. It was here that we got to know other people better. Blaring wedding music is not conducive for conversations but here we were able talk, listen and laugh. Sometimes the best part is not rehearsed.