We’re going to the ocean and we’re gonna get married
On this spectacular sunny weekend, we headed south for my brother’s wedding. I could see it in my mind’s eye as we drove down, like in those old movies when characters travel from one destination to another. Red dots, representing each family member and friend, making its way from all directions on the highways of America and converging in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. There is something powerful about an event that draws people together from all over.
We stayed at the Bow Street Inn B & B which was run by a crotchety old couple who seemed thoroughly sick of running this place, despite the fact that they were making a killing at it. The man barked “Are you coming in or what?” when Steve rang the buzzer. You may think perhaps I am mistaking lovable crusty local seafaring personalities for offensive rudeness, but you would be wrong. They did not have any comment or suggestion cards around, so I thought I would post it on the internet instead. However! they did have this lovely ceramic bong vase in our room.
Portsmouth is a lovely historic town on the seacoast, and we enjoyed walking around town and meeting up with the family and extended family for dinner and drinks. I loved breathing in the smell of the sea every time I stepped outside. The next day was so sunny and so blue and so crisp that it only happens a handful of times in New England. Fortunately for Jordan and Jocelyn, it happened for their outdoor wedding by the ocean.
There are really no words to adequately describe how touching it is to see your brother get married. He seemed so calm and ready.
I’ll just keep typing over this big lump in my throat! The ceremony was short and sweet and Jocelyn was a beautiful bride. Great food, drinks and lawn games followed. I forgot all about sunscreen in the cool breeze and by the end of the day my face was hurting and there was an outline of my necklace sunburned into my skin. Steve was the only other person who got as red as I did. Before long our cousins were joking about how our kids will need to apply sunscreen to their internal organs.
That night we all went out to dinner as a huge group, then walking about town and ice cream. I went to bed with strategically placed cool washcloths over my sunburn.
J&J are on their way to Hawaii. Steve and I got home in the early afternoon and put our suitcases in the bedroom where they will remain unpacked for several days because we have the housekeeping skills of two college-aged frat boys.