What? Yet another new experience?

What a year!!!

Yes, another new experience!

Remember the wedding shower I went to in June? Well, I've just been to the wedding. My first American Wedding. We've been here 11 years and never been invited to one. Even when we did pre-marital counseling with a couple, not even they invited us. So this was a very memorable occasion for Alan and I.

Patience Decker and Brian Pedersen were married this afternoon. Both Bride and Groom wore white - hers a beautiful dress and he, a white linen suit - and very handsome were too. There were five bridesmaids, but our attention was grabbed by the young daughter of one of them - little Kailey, the 20 month old flower girl. There were four groomsmen looking incredibly handsome in their tuxes. The Bride was crying with a huge smile on her face - is that possible? - as she walked down the aisle on her radiant father's arm. The happy couple gazed at each other with such love and such tenderness throughout. Oh, lovely it was!

I tried to take a photo, but only managed to get one at the reception when Bride and Groom had the first dance - but she'd changed her dress by then... I am hoping that someone else makes their photos available, then I can display one here and show what a lovely dress she was wearing.

I'm rather weary after such an exciting day. It started off really exciting - well more like yesterday finished off exciting - Nathan and I were in line for a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in the early hours of this morning... crowds of people in Borders playing games, drinking polyjuice potion, winning prizes for the best fancy dress, Stephanie won the Spelling Bee and we all eagerly anticipated the receipt of this much awaited tome. As the hands on the clock were reaching for the twelve, we counted down - New York New Year's Eve Big Ball style - the seconds. 3 - 2 - 1 Midnight arrived with a great cheer. Those who had preordered their books had already been given different colored wristbands - telling the order in which we could obtain our books. We were blue. First was orange then silver then pink then blue - we were not the last... Some of the first people in line were almost overcome with emotion as this magical copy was placed in their hands.

We sat around, friends knitted, others chatted and took photos, Nathan found a copy of Foxtrot to while away the time. There was a great atmosphere, all tired, but in good humor as we waited. We waited till after 1.30 am to receive our book. Then Nathan was eager to get home and start reading - me? I went to sleep - I'll probably get around to reading the book later on. I've waited this long to find out what happens, I guess I can manage to wait a little longer.