Sunday, 31 August, 1997 12:28

Well, we all survived. Indeed, we all (me included) had a great deal of fun. Lacee was just about to go to sleep before we left for the wedding, but she revived and carried out her train-carrying duties with aplomb.

The wedding was at the Rose Garden, and it was in full bloom. The ceremony started about fifteen minutes late; which was not too bad, all things considered. It was, needless to say, very hot and humid. The guys in tuxes were sweating, and the ladies in the black dresses were... well, perspiring, as they say in the south. The lady in white, however, was cool and collected. The preacher talked a lot about god and jeezus, but everyone pretty well ignored that part. I held my tongue really well..

After the ceremony there was a receiving line down by the pond. The kids were really wound up, and played around the pond. I don't think that anyone fell in, though, and I was surprised at that.

We came home and luxuriated in the air conditioning for an hour or so, then took off for the party. It was held at the national guard armory, in an air-conditioned room. Shortly after we got there, the photographer arrived, so the next hour was given over to posing and shooting the wedding party. Most of the kids wound up in the gym, which is not air-conditioned, playing basketball and just running around. Lacee and most of the other little girls were still in their pretty dresses and the boys still in their tuxes.

The first of the two kegs was tapped when we got there, though, and the beer was flowing freely. Amazingly, nobody was obviously drunk at this point. Matt was the DJ, but he couldn't start the music until the pix were all taken.

And after the music started, everyone started having a good time. The tuxes were soon gone, and most of the bridesmaids changed into shorts and t-shirts. The dancing was fast and furious; I even danced a little myself. Betty, at 78 years, also got out on the floor for more than a few dances.

Sometime during the evening, Lacee made up a game: she would yell, "Grampa!" at the top of her lungs and come running at me. When she was about five feet away she would jump at me, and I was expected to catch her and throw her into the air. My performance must've been satisfactory, because this continued all night.

By 23:30, all but the hardcore partiers had gone. Lacee had fallen down in the gym and was kinda sulking, but I got her and Karen to dance one more dance with me, then Lacee collapsed in my arms. She had just absolutely had it, she was worn out. I carried her out to the van while Karen rounded up Betty and Brian. We brought Lacee home with us and Kim and Steve would pick her up later. Shortly after we got home, I got online and deciphered that some major news event had happened, so I turned on CNN and there it was:Lady Di is dead. Karen and I spent the next hour-and-a-half watching. Kim and Steve and Matt came to get Lacee, and they had not heard the news yet either.

I am not particularly affected by the news of Di's death. I have never been a royaly fan, only catching bits and pieces on the news occasionally on some major flap or another; but I gather that Di was acknowledged as one of the shakers and doers. Too bad, especially the particular manner of her death: trying to escape part of what made her what she was. The part that no-one likes to admit is there, the people who both glorify and destroy their targets. The part that wouldn't be there if people didn't want to know absolutely everything about their heros/heroines.

If there weren't a demand for their pictures and articles... they wouldn't be there. If you don't like them, quit buying the shit that they produce! Simple as that...

Everyone (with the exception of Tyler and I) is on the way over to Andy and Karla's to see their house and participate in the opening of gifts. I passed because I need to get a pre-work nap (I need to go in at 19:00) and I've seen their house already. Tyler is passing because he's still asleep on the couch... he passed on the reception last night, too.

And I'm gonna have to miss the Chiefs/Broncos game. Darn.