The Engagement Party

There is an eerie quiet throughout the 750 square feet of my condo right now. Almost 50 beloved friends and family passed through this place just hours ago and it is taking me awhile to come down after all the festivities. My Mom, Donald, Davey, Nita, Brad, and Abel were the last to leave. Everything seemed to go by so fast!!! I can't believe it's over already.

Tomorrow we're meeting with Jeffrey Walker at St James to talk to him about officiating at our wedding. Davey, generously on loan from Nita, came with us to the 10:15 am service this morning to case the joint so he can help us with wedding set up plans. We all met the very theatrical and booming-voiced Rev. Walker. I think he will keep our wedding guests and Brad and I quite awake.

Davey and Nita flew in from Boston Saturday evening. It was long journey and therefore a real labor of love for them to come. ...Another labor of love was how into taking photos Davey was today. He was snapping pics of the chapel, the reception hall (which we talked about using instead of Artz today... discussion to be continued), and the engagement party. He and Nita were super instrumental in getting the pinata set up, managing to minimize branch-twine friction and maximize candy content. These little girls at the party were going nuts over the pinata... and me too. It was a big hit.

Brad was grill master at the party. He and some helpers kept the coals a'burnin' all afternoon. People were wonderful with bringing contributions. Brad's mother brought two cakes - one carrot-gasm flavor inscribed with "B. David 'Doc'" and one chocolate mousse bliss that said, "Congratulations Sally & Brad." Larry brought Chilean wine for us to taste that he special ordered. He wants to contribute some for our wedding. I felt a gaping hole exposed in my wine knowledge when Larry asked me what I thought about it, but as far as I know, it tasted just great. He also brought me a book to read about Australia. He said, "Brad has one he'll take with him, but you'll need one to read while he's gone." Ooohhhh, how wonderful is Larry for doing that?!

Chichi, Elizabeth, Jeff, Polly, Allison, and Phil were all there from Samba. Allison, in full Packers uniform, schemed with me about incorporating samba into our wedding service. She came up with a cool idea to sing a wedding march sample before Maracatu instead of the regular one we sing. Note to self: Add Allison's idea to list of greatest wedding ideas ever. Phil sacrificed his broom handle to the pinata gods who mostly took the forms of diminutive Asian females aged 5 to 7. Thank you, Phil. Phil also brought my favorite type of hugs with him - Phil Hugs. Phil and I played the ganzas and chocalhos together in the samba school before I started dancing with Chichi and Elizabeth. I'm still trying to make the cut for Carnaval. I think all that chocolate cake I ate will make me look great in a samba dance outfit as well as my wedding dress.

Many many many more people came. I can't even begin to list everyone but of course I will try because I want to give each and every person a huge hug for being here today, especially when football is on! Babysitters had to be arranged, food had to be prepared, roads had to be navigated. Sharon and Mike, Mom and Donald, and Mr. and Mrs. Madhav (Nita's parents) drove 3+ hours from Houston to get here. My Mom brought beaucoups food, supplies, party favors and led clean-up detail. Mom worked her booty off the whole day for us. Jose, Keith and Lisa, Nadia and Sorel, Olga and Jack, Jack and Carol, Liang and Jean, Yu's family, and Dean and his wife were all there. We made good use of the huge back lawn and the porch and big coolers filled with lots of beer. And there was lots and lots of MEAT.

The fridge went from bachelorette empty to overflowing. I can't help but make the analogy to how my heart feels like it's overflowing too now.