What is about Weddings?

So, I might have mentioned that Hank's family tree is a bit gnarled?  His mother married 7 times, twice to the same man (he's not sure whether she liked the state of being married or just getting married).  Anyway, her last husband (one of those she married twice) was Ed, a man 26 years her junior, making him Hank's stepfather and one year younger than Hank at the same time.  After the death of Hank's mom, Ed married Dorrie, a single mother of 4, making the 4, if you have been following along, Hank's step brothers and sisters - sort of!  Anyway, it was the last of these, Laura, who was marrying in Phoenix (well, not quite Phoenix, actually Gilbert, Arizona, an altogether different zip code, linked only by freeways).

It was a lovely wedding, about which I won't say much more, but let the pictures do the talking.

This is Ed, stepfather of the Bride - and Hank!



Okay, that's enough (probably more than enough) of that!  Suffice it to say, the wedding was well organized, the bride and party were lovely, and I think all considered it a great success.  As did I, although I have to say for a single person with next to no family, it was somewhat like attending a wedding with the Waltons!!  Nonetheless, all were very gracious, and made me feel welcome.  All in all, it went much better than I had anticipated.

Phoenix is so large that we had to change hotels to be close enough to the action on the appropriate day!  Ed had booked us all into a golf resort for the night of the wedding, and arranged for a shuttle to and from (a good thing too, considering the open bar!)  It was a lovely place, and I was sorry not to be able to spend more time there.

I couldn't resist one more....

no, make that two - prarie sky pictures.  It is the best thing about the place.

Sunday, in spite of having had too much to drink the night before (countless beer for Hank and 4 crantinis for me, not to mention the champaigne),  - and a later night for Hank, who found a sports bar and caught the last quarter of the Arizone/Arizone State football game -we had a relatively early (for Hank!) morning, to join the family (there were 24 - I wasn't kidding about the Waltons) for a buffett breakfast at the resort.  It was, as to be expected, a wonderful spread, with excellent service.

Hank was staying on in Phoenix for a family Thanksgiving, and I wasn't due at the airport untile 5 P.M., so we killed some time going to Arizona State University for more nostalgia (Hank went to the University of Arizona for undergrad and Arizona State for graduate school), and then to a mnall (there are plenty of them to chose from, believe me), for a movie.  We saw J. Edgar, the newest Clint Eastwood movie with Leonardo di Caprio.  I actually highly recommend it.  It is a bit - fuller - (translation: longer) then Eastwood's movies have been, but still wonderfully shot and cast, and di Caprio has turned into way more than a pretty face.  Let's call it 4 stars, or, if you are from the Bay area, the little man is clapping.

The plane to Oakland, and trip to Hank's went like clockwork, and I am off for lunch and a browse of the Museum of Modern Art with friend Mary Harvey in a few minutes.  Tomorrow, I pick up Peter (another long time friend), who is making the drive with me back down to Palm Springs.  Stay tuned.