Another Lifetime to go

22nd September 2018

The big day is finally here, but still a lot of things to do before the party starts.

All the chairs had been delivered so my first job was to set them out. I had a stick and a piece of rope which I used to create the first arc of chairs, as the length of rope was limited it dictated the diameter of wedding circle.

As the chairs were set out, it started to become real.

The delivery of the flowers brought the tables to life, making a colourful splash in the cool vases.

All the wines and beers were gently getting cooled in the giant refrigerator, I had rushed out last night to get a few more just in case. Running out of food can be excused, but never the beer.

Matt and Chris arrived to practice the music as Kelli and myself left to make ourselves respectable.

The weather was perfect, a blue sky, and a smooth lake.

I went to Damian’s place to change, Ethan was running round like a maniac, ignoring his father’s pleas to calm down.

I got back to the venue expecting the officiants, Stephen and Kathi to be there to go through any last minute changes, and to set the volume of the PA system, but they were running late.

Eventually with less than fifteen minutes to go they arrived, so it was a mad rush to set the levels.

I stood in the circle waiting for the ceremony to start. Chris took his seat and started to play the guitar. The seats started to fill up, some people I knew, others I didn’t.

Damian stood by my side with the rings in his pocket, I hoped he wouldn’t drop them on the grass when he handed them over.

Seeing Kelli walking towards me dressed in her white dress with her hair in tassels with a crown of wild flowers took my breath away. As she stood facing me, her face was smiling, I was smiling, and the guests were smiling, it was a happy day.

The whole ceremony went very quickly, so with Chris performing Paul Simon’s “America” we faced our guests who blowed bubbles over us as we walked back down the path as husband and wife.

We walked down the road to get some pictures taken. Matt snapped away as we tried to be natural.

We made our dramatic entry back into the venue to the music of “September ” by Earth, Wind and fire. We burst through the doors with Kelli dancing into the crowd whilst they clapped wildly. I was a little more refined, only because I hadn’t had a drink.

The reception was a blast, everyone was having a great time, including the bridesmaids, who having consumed enough alcohol to kill a horse put on a floor show that would have made Peter Stringfellow blush. Damian said it was worth the journey just for that.

Ethan had a great time, the cup cakes were just at his level so he managed to lick the topping off about six before he was dragged away.

Just before midnight, we ended the celebrations, a few die-hards remained up to the end. Everyone was on a high, everything was perfect, the food, the drink, and the music was great. Kelli’s cheeks were hurting because she never stopped smiling all day, it was wonderful to see her so happy.

21st September 2018

It’s wedding eve!!

We were at the venue early to start setting up. Moving tables, re-moving tables until they were perfectly aligned with any lay lines that might pass through Michigan.

There were still so many little things that had to be transported and set up prior to the rehearsal. This was the first time most of the “cast” had been together, so the first run through was a bit chaotic with loads of questions about positions, timings, and many answers, leading to another batch of questions. It all got a bit much at one point. However trying to get the main theme of the ceremony clear to the two friends officiating worked out in the end.

Kelli was due to go out with the girls for a hen night whilst I went to dinner with Damian and Ethan. The little lad had been awake since 3.00am so was a little grouchy, but a handful of fries soon shut him up.

We then drove back to the house Damian had rented. Of course he would not just rent any old house, this was like a palace right on the lake. Our place would fit in the hallway.

They had been there a day, and hadn’t explored all the rooms. He later sent me a picture of the cinema room.

20th September 2018

Kelli booked into a tanning centre for a top-up so there is no chance that she might be mistaken for an English person. I’m affectionately known as “Vampire Pete”, but at least I’m spotted in headlights at night.

The token British contingent flew into Chicago this afternoon, and despite Kelli’s advice they decided to drive. From experience, getting across the city can be torturous, and from the updates we are getting, today is no exception.

However he proved that with the right car, and a heavy foot you could make O’hare airport to Holland in less than two and a half hours.

I gave the truck a good clean, but the leaves from the walnut tree just covered it again.

On yet another visit to Goodwill, Kelli found some numbered wooden blocks just right for the tables at the reception, they went into the basket before I could blink. In total there were fifteen of them, so she grabbed the first six, leaving seven to fifteen for some other creative person to think of a use for.

We took all the dishes and baskets to the caterers, as always there’s doubt in the quantities, so we asked for an extra five loaves and fishes just in case.

I had arranged to meet up with some old HM buddies at New Holland in the evening for a boys night.

Left to right

Steve K, Jeff F, Tom V English Mike (neighbour) and Mike DP.

19th September 2018

It seems that everyone knows about the wedding, and I mean everyone. It’s like a huge out of body experience do me. I was thinking low key, modest, somewhere I won’t be a centre of attention, instead I’m expecting sign writing in the sky, dolphins skimming the lake whilst the fire department shoot water jets into the air. “Oh I’ve just told a few people I know” she says, although she must know a lot of people.

We stopped off at the venue this morning to pay for a person to “hang around” during the event, and lock up after us. We also needed to remind ourselves of the space one more time. The amount of props and stuff we have to bring to the place will be like the Rolling Stones on tour. Then at the end we have to bring it all back, and store it. I know it will be great, and Kelli will have an aching face from smiling too much, and that is the main thing.

There is the constant worry if we have enough food and drink, we know there will be one hundred and twenty bread rolls, so if that doesn’t fill people up nothing will.

I am hoping that the mosquito bits will have stopped inching by then, the little bastards have been feasting on my pure English blood, and all night I have to scratch, I even dream of scratching. I may have to make a scratching post to take to the ceremony and rub up and down it during the vows. I would look like a clothed pole dancer who would have to give money away rather than collect it.

That’s the one thing I have noticed, everything bites. The smallest spider, has teeth, the tiny flys buzz around and bite. So it is open season and I am alway twitching and turning anticipating the next attack, maybe when I’m married that will stop, I live in hope.

18th September 2018

It was supposed to be a recording day with Matt to track the song he had written especially for the wedding. I set everything up, but he cancelled at the last minute because his “equilibrium” was out. Boy! These musician types are far more sensitive than us normal guys.

The girls went out to get more stuff for the wedding, whilst I was tinkering with bits of wood to make some tops.

We spent the evening making up little gifts for the guests to take away, I suggested a bill, but Kelli said no, instead we made up little packages containing two tea bags, with a coloured label, it looked cute.

I don’t expect everyone to know what to do with it, probably some will just suck on the leaves, but it’s a just a little token.

17th September 2018

Well it’s the home stretch, and all the attention is focused on the weather. Every few hours Kelli checks on her phone, and comes away despondent. Each service has a slightly different forecast ranging from sunny with cloud to rain. This is something we have no control over so will have to deal with whatever is thrown at us.

There was another panic in the household and it had nothing to do with the wedding. Kelli could not find her favourite pair of pants. She spent most of a day last week searching through her vast closet desperately looking for them. Having no luck upstairs she moved her attention to the basement branch, but still no luck, so that was a disaster. I had bought them for her on a trip to Chicago at her favourite store “Free People”, therefore they had a special significance.

Within a instant she was on EBay and found another identical pair. Today the “Replacement” pair turned up. It was like she had won the lottery, whooping and dancing followed, as the package was torn apart. This is the time when the original pair magically re-appear, but they are still missing.

I have been trying to carry on with the furniture project, but things at the booth have been a bit slow this week, so the pressure has been taken off.

Kelli did a practice run with some place settings which will look brilliant.

16th September 2018

We had to make some changes to the table arrangement as some late names were added.

It was a general craft night of cutting, rolling and folding. Kelli wanted to include a sheet of the order of service, but attempts at finding a template she could download were frustrating her. So we sat and tried to design our own.

It was after 2.00am before we finished. It was an hilarious time, of course the wine didn’t help, but we liked the end result.

15th September 2018

Today seemed a good day to go and buy the drinks for the wedding. It was a wild trip, I think a lot of customers guessed we were having a party or something, others just thought we had a drinking problem.

The truck sounded like a milk float on the way home, and there is always the question ” do you think we’ve got enough?” I guess that once it’s gone, the party ends.

Kelli had spotted a chair in God’s backyard (Zeeland) and as we were heading to Hudsonville we decided to pick it up on route.

It was waiting for us on the porch as we arrived, Kelli went crazy over it, whilst I thought it looked like someone was already sitting on it, covered in a sheet, but what do I know?

We carried it straight into the booth space as soon as we got to Hudsonville, so nothing added, just the price tag.

We had our two ex-pat friends from the UK, Lesley and Mike over for drinks, we quickly demolished a couple of bottles of red, and hot and spicy nibbles, it was a fun night.

The girls compared notes on their respective sleeping issues, whilst Mike and I exchanged stories about the contract engineering jobs we had.

14th September 2018

Friday is definitely paying in day at the Chemical Bank. The thrashing sound of fingers on paper, is almost painful, as it is ridiculous.

Success is measured by the time it takes to flick through the stack, and the digits on the screen, I have grown to despise both.

The build-up to the wedding is intensifying, Kelli is freaking out more each day, and it is effecting her sleep. I do understand that it is a special day for her(and for me too) but it is a small event in comparison to others. I know she wants to be the best ever, and I want this for her, especially as she has overcome some shitty things in her life, but she alway has a beaming smile at the end of it.

She wants this to be the wedding she has always dreamed of having, it brings together her sense of style, rather than tradition. It will have colour, texture, and fun, at least people will remember it as being very different.

Uncommon Grounds was surprisingly quiet, as most of the summer crazies have left, and the more sedate pre-fall visitors dawdle the pavements, and clutter the doorways. They are more about the”regular” coffee than the lattes, I sit, gloating at my coolness.

There was one guy who came in who had a beard and ponytail that was almost identical, if it wasn’t for his nose you wouldn’t know which way he was facing.

13th September 2018

“Oh it’s Thursday, trash day, wait a minute, we didn’t put the bin out” that feeling of horror woke me from my dreams, and without a second thought scrabbled around for my shoes. The garage door rumbled up as I rushed out in my underwear the breeze blowing round my knees. The mission was completed, bin on the street, door closed, me safe from prying eyes.

I had a job to do at Kelli’s parents house regarding sticking doors. With my electric planer in hand I tackled the worst one in the bathroom. Apparently this had been bad for nearly thirty years, I guess they were just waiting for me to come along.

Taking that heavy door off several times drew sweat from my brow, and I was concerned that I didn’t remove so much wood that a cat could crawl under. What started off as one job, turned into three. I tactfully put off the last door as it would have taken several hour to remove the shelving frame that was attached to it. I will save that for another day.