WhiteTailDoe of Ember

So, we're back from what, in our little pocket universe, was the Event of the Century--the marriage of the Philosopher and his Lovely Friend! We were in Chicago Wednesday through this morning, hanging out with the fam and partaking of various parts of the ritual: rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, actual wedding, brunch afterwards with the mother and sister of the Lovely Friend, whom we had not met before. There were also many breakfasts, dinners, and snacks as we staked out a portion of the hotel restaurant so we could hail people as they went by and provide them with food, as well as a dinner out, a couple of trips to the Christkindl Market, pizza, and some not entirely successful attempts at bowling and a trip to the Art Institute. Many joyful hellos, and then at last, too many goodbyes. it was a remarkable time out of time, leaving much to ponder in the heart and commit to memory. One by one, everyone has checked in to say they're safe home again--all but the Philosopher himself, who is en route to Italy for what sounds like a pretty spectacular honeymoon.

Meanwhile, I'm beat. The old body just doesn't keep up as well as it used to. ("Cold Mountain Poems," by Gary Snyder: "Body asking shadow, how do you keep up?") I'm trying to stay awake just long enough to reach bedtime.