Sylvia's Journal

The wedding preparations were overshadowed the last two days by medical checkups. During my annual physical the nurse practitioner discovered some hormonal irregularities that needed more diagnostics. We also learned that Axel’s gall bladder needs to be removed. We were both a bit down from the prodding and probing and the addition of more tests that are jeopardizing the two day B&B vacation we had planned in Holland to recover from the wedding.

The bride and groom have moved into the house with all their stuff, boxes of things to decorate the yard and things to wear. They have taken over the organization of the wedding preparations. The garden is all spruced up, one of the tents is up and edged with Christmas lights. The yard is full of cheap Chinese solar lights, hurricane lamps and citronella candles (the ceremony is at the prime mosquito hour). It will be a Wedding Light, in every sense.

It is now Earl we are worried about. Hurricane Earl is creeping up the East coast to arrive here exactly when the couple will exchange their vows. A tent in hurricane season is a little problematic – it could fly away, all 25 large steel poles – a scary thought. Yet at the same time the tent, if staying in place – would protect us against the rain. We don’t really have any good plan B and C, just a memory of Axel’s 60th birthday that was interrupted by a hurricane like squall (we had a great time, we keep telling ourselves). But of course then we didn’t have a band and 70 guests.

I made a practice bridal bouquet, with instructions from the internet and it is holding out well after 24 hours. It consists of large rosehips, lantenna, goldenrod, pink hydrangea, some greens and speckled greens and a lemon geranium leaf (to keep the mosquitoes off the bride and groom). Since there are no bridesmaids the order is small, one set (bouquet and corsage) for the bride and groom and a smaller set for the witnesses (sister and brother).

Because the self-generating medical visits were breaking our spirits, Andrew and KB took us out for a lovely boat ride and swim at the end of the day when the light is at its best in the expansive Essex Estuary. It was the first time we felt in vacation mood.

Today is the boat ride for immediate family and friends along the Essex River culminating with a clambake served on the low tide flats. It’s another day of respite from tests for Axel. After that some of us girls will get our nails done and then the countdown can start.