such a beautiful wedding celebration
lots of love, and dance, and music, and friends. and food, and flowers
and a bride i’ve known
since she walked into my school in kindergarten.
—
“growing up, I had one very specific idea of what a wedding should be,
and that was the wedding of Fraulein Maria and Captain von Trapp in ‘The Sound of Music.”
-ellie kemper
( festive artwork that was a precursor to the night’s joyful celebration)
seeing this painting upon entering the room
where my dear friend
finally had the chance
to have the wedding she’d always wanted
delayed by two long years of pandemic
i knew it would be a memorable celebration
that really lived up to the artist’s vision
and then some.
—
“all great celebrations break away from the mundane.”
-jessica marie baumgartner
how beautiful to see
my nephew
looking happy and hopeful
with his lovely bride
joining two families together
seeing my sister in him
wishing she were here
to see her son so full of love.
—
“forever is composed of nows.”
-emily dickinson
after a day spent
amidst the love and celebration
of a beautiful wedding
the night is waiting.
—
“before the first before and after the last after, there is night waiting.”
― d
—
cape neddick, maine – august 2019
while everyone’s eyes were focused
on the royal love story across the pond
i happened upon this one
much closer to home.
—
“you can’t blame gravity for falling in love.”
-albert einstein
the house
the pool
the wheels
the drinks
the fire
the tables
–
the quiet calm.
—
“the next morning dawned bright and sweet, like ribbon candy.”
― sarah addison allen, – Garden Spells
the bride comes in with a song
the littlest wedding crasher
handsome in his checked shirt
grabs a bouquet from the bar
and jumps into the celebration
bride and groom
join as one
as they become a family
and the celebration begins
“love is not just looking at each other,
it’s looking in the same direction.”
~ antoine de saint-exupery
—
kennedy wedding, woodstock, ny – august 2016
left my house
yesterday morning at 5:15am
flew out at 7:15am
headed to woodstock
for my brother’s upcoming wedding
very excited and happy for them
and then
in the blink of an eye
and
without a flash of lightning
all forms of travel changed
and
got a little more complicated
i’m just saying
that i now
may
need a passport
but
i will find my way
to the big show
on time
no worries
who would expect
anything less
from woodstock
after all?
—
1969
Arlo Guthrie: It’s incredible.
I heard the New York Thruway’s closed.
News Reporter: Closed?
This morning we heard that they were
backed down Route 17 with an eight hour delay.
Arlo Guthrie: Right. Well, the New York Thruway’s closed.
Isn’t that far out?
“want to really get somewhere in life? just don’t follow the crowd.”
-jeremy limn
—
image credits: vintage woodstock 1969 google images
after the lively wedding, a calm morning after
a day of ups and downs and ups again. began with the farmer’s market – flowers, fruits, veggies, jams, babies finding music there and dancing to live strings as the sun gleamed down. and then…. a car surprise – went from oil change in 15 minutes and 19 dollars, to front suspension in 2.5 hours and 838 dollars. threw in a free light bulb. and then…..thai dinner – hot spicy fun and laughter and burning lips with friends, including our volleyball player in a cast ‘with a slight break/chip’. and then……ran into aut/out-fest, filled with rainbows, beads, italian ices and drag queens. and then…..wandered into a wedding back at the scene of the morning farmers market, more music and beauty everywhere. and then… a bicycle built for 7. full circle. and then…….
But then there are magical, beautiful things in the world.
There’s incredible acts of kindness and bravery, and in the most unlikely places, and it gives you hope.
I have my glasses on.... 
