Wedding trip

Vincent and I went on another difficult trip - when we again weren't getting along. Back to Ohio again - this time, not for a funeral on Vincent's father's side of the family or a hospital trip on my side of the family - for a wedding on Stephanie's side of the family. Getting married was Stephanie's cousin Johnny to a woman he'd known for just a few months at their new church in the Columbus suburb of Hilliard (where Vincent's father and my cousin also used to live). Vincent and I lingered at home and I made a wrong turn in Hilliard, and so we managed to miss the whole ceremony. Above - leaving the ceremony - are John's sister Heather and her family. Below are John's parents Marvin and Pat (Pat - one of the few people who have read my dissertation introduction and a fellow Weight Watcher.)

Leaving below are Stephanie's mother Nancy and Don.

Below is Stephanie's stepfather, Bob.

Below are the newlyweds, having just walked down the aisle and spoken with just about everyone in the sanctuary (like a reverse receiving line).

Below, Lydia and John approach us.

Below is the scene for the reception, in the church Fellowship Hall, which Vincent and I caught a lot of (Vincent - when he wasn't off reading elsewhere and asking me if we were leaving yet).

Below is Stephanie's cousin - and Don's daughter Julie and her new baby - Julie and her three kids and her parents now all live in the Mt. Vernon area, where many of Nancy's siblings and their spouses and some of their kids have moved (see also "Apple Valley Christmas"). Stephanie and I had a memorable encounter with Julie back when we were first dating.

Below is Carol, Don's spouse and Julie's mother, with her granddaughter and housemate.

Below are Julie's older kids.

Below is Nancy and Mary, her brother Steve's high school sweetheart and new spouse.

Below is Mary's spouse Steve.

Below is Steve and his brother Marvin, father of the groom. John and Lydia's wedding came together slowly and belatedly, which made John's parents a little nervous. Their church friends helped the couple and their parents bring it all together during the final week.

It took a while for the newlyweds and their immediate family come to the reception - apparently because they were getting pictures taken. We socialized (and Vincent also read and complained), ate, and then watched as the couple cut the wedding cake (below).

Below the smiling couple cuts the cake.

And they also ate cake - no smushing.

We socialized and took pictured a little more. Carol and Steve talked some with Grandma Mary.

Below is a posed picture of Grandma Mary and most of her extended family (including Vincent - top left).

An excuse Vincent (and me - so he wouldn't keep complaining) had for leaving was that it was starting to snow outside. Of course, the amount of snow and wind was small compared to what we'd get later this winter. As planned, Vincent and I stopped to eat at a great cheap Japanese restaurant at the Florence Mall food court (Florence, y'all - not too far from Covington, where Stephanie and I got married), before going to see the new Bond movie at a new movie theater across the parking lot from the mall: "Quantum of Solace," which turned out not to be anywhere as good as Daniel's Craig's initial Bond movie (and the prequel to "Solace"), "Casino Royale." Before we left I took a picture of the bald and Vincent with Nancy, both smiling.

-- Perry