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Last night I was kind of a wreck, but after getting some sleep, I felt good enough to show up for music rehearsal at church. It was Choir Exchange day. Last week, our choir and musicians went to another nearby UU church, and this week, their music group joined us. So the choir was twice as big as usual, and we had some extra musicians, too. The choir sang even better than usual and was very inspiring. I felt happy that I had come to be part of the event.

To return to the scene of a week ago, I'm happy to report that the wedding was a great success. Held in a Reformed church, it included some religious content that was not entirely welcome to all, but the bride was as beautiful and the groom as devoted as anyone could wish. My mother looked wonderful in her new outfit. The whole family looked wonderful, in fact. After the reception, Queenie and the Fireman had to leave for the airport, and the bride's immediate family were busy, of course, but we invited everyone else back to our house. While some people were napping and others were picking up more wine and snacks, there was time for my mother to lie down for her own nap. She was able to get up later and be in her glory chatting with all the adult grandchildren. Mr. and Ms. Science, their two girls and a boyfriend came. Queenie's two daughters were still in town, and they came too, as well as my own children. There was lots to eat and drink, more cake, and the traditional "cousin pile" for the camera.

On Sunday morning, I was able to get my mother up and dressed and breakfasted and packed, and was just putting her eyedrops in when the Duchess arrived to take her home. She did remarkably well, I thought. The Duchess gave me a hug as she was getting into the car and said she would not have been able to have Mother at the wedding if I hadn't taken care of her. Which is true!! No one could have managed a wedding AND Mother at the same time! One by one our other guests departed. When Raptor learned that his family was going home, he tried to lock his parents in their room so they couldn't leave--alas, in vain. He said sadly, "But I love it here!" Really, who would not love a place full of agreeable grown-ups who live to serve you--like Uncle Philosopher reading him Frog and Toad stories as many times as he wanted. We wished we could keep them longer, too . . . .

The Philosopher stayed longest. He borrowed the car to drive to Ann Arbor and do various errands. Then he came back and spent a leisurely day with us, visited the art museum with us and ate another good dinner before finally heading home. All around, it was a glorious and successful event.