A golden day in Oregon....
Aug. 7th, 2005 10:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
djonnWhoof.
For the past several weeks, I've been pulling together a reception and dinner celebrating my parents' 50th wedding anniversary (the anniversary itself was in June, but for a number of good reasons the celebration was pushed back).
Today was The Big Day. The entire immediate family was on hand -- my parents, of course; also the Kid Brother, his wife, and their two offspring, "spring" being the operative word, up from SoCal for a vacation/visit.
So. Once we had completed morning church services, we went into Staging Mode. The reception was set for midafternoon in the church's Fellowship Hall, so we brought in the serviceware -- cups, plates. forks, napkins, table-covers in what the party store calls School Bus Yellow but which is really brighter and cheerier than that (more lemon, less orange). The Kid Brother assumed the task of arranging all this; my father and I, since (a) this was NOT a surprise thing and (b) I don't drive, meanwhile, went off to collect the necessary comestibles -- catered fruit and cheese platters from the good local supermarket chain, lemonade, the cake. [The cake, done by the really good local bakery, is highlighted by a digitized copy of one of my parents' wedding photos.]
We then returned to the church with said comestibles, and set the Kid Brother to further committing aesthetics and feng shui on the relevant props. (He is very, very good at this.)
Somewhat later, people began to arrive -- from all over the map. An old high school friend of Father's arrived from Florida; several others came from Seattle, and we ended up with a very good turnout and much good conversation. Many cards are received; many lines in the guest book are filled.
We then adjourn for a brief rest (and to deposit the leftover cake, fruit, and cheese -- more fruit than either cake or cheese -- in my refrigerator, because there is no room in my parents' while the Kid Brother is visiting).
And on to dinner, at an Italian place of long standing we've patronized for years. This group is smaller, but not quite as small as we'd feared -- three of Father's cousins plus a spouse, whom we'd missed at the reception, had come from far enough out of town that they decided to forego the reception and meet us at dinner. After a brief scramble for two more chairs, we settle in for excellent food and reminiscing. The Kid Brother accidentally orders the World's Largest Calzone ("I thought it would be for one!"); he and several others of us emerge with people-cartons.
A good time seems to have been had by all, and the various friends and relatives are very complimentary.
Now I can relax....
[sploosh-collapse]
For the past several weeks, I've been pulling together a reception and dinner celebrating my parents' 50th wedding anniversary (the anniversary itself was in June, but for a number of good reasons the celebration was pushed back).
Today was The Big Day. The entire immediate family was on hand -- my parents, of course; also the Kid Brother, his wife, and their two offspring, "spring" being the operative word, up from SoCal for a vacation/visit.
So. Once we had completed morning church services, we went into Staging Mode. The reception was set for midafternoon in the church's Fellowship Hall, so we brought in the serviceware -- cups, plates. forks, napkins, table-covers in what the party store calls School Bus Yellow but which is really brighter and cheerier than that (more lemon, less orange). The Kid Brother assumed the task of arranging all this; my father and I, since (a) this was NOT a surprise thing and (b) I don't drive, meanwhile, went off to collect the necessary comestibles -- catered fruit and cheese platters from the good local supermarket chain, lemonade, the cake. [The cake, done by the really good local bakery, is highlighted by a digitized copy of one of my parents' wedding photos.]
We then returned to the church with said comestibles, and set the Kid Brother to further committing aesthetics and feng shui on the relevant props. (He is very, very good at this.)
Somewhat later, people began to arrive -- from all over the map. An old high school friend of Father's arrived from Florida; several others came from Seattle, and we ended up with a very good turnout and much good conversation. Many cards are received; many lines in the guest book are filled.
We then adjourn for a brief rest (and to deposit the leftover cake, fruit, and cheese -- more fruit than either cake or cheese -- in my refrigerator, because there is no room in my parents' while the Kid Brother is visiting).
And on to dinner, at an Italian place of long standing we've patronized for years. This group is smaller, but not quite as small as we'd feared -- three of Father's cousins plus a spouse, whom we'd missed at the reception, had come from far enough out of town that they decided to forego the reception and meet us at dinner. After a brief scramble for two more chairs, we settle in for excellent food and reminiscing. The Kid Brother accidentally orders the World's Largest Calzone ("I thought it would be for one!"); he and several others of us emerge with people-cartons.
A good time seems to have been had by all, and the various friends and relatives are very complimentary.
Now I can relax....
[sploosh-collapse]
