Wedding Day 26 May 2012

We had a great wedding day. A Celtic wedding with temperature and moisture like the Highlands. We were married at St. John in the Wilderness in White Bear Lake, Minnesota on 26 May 2012 @ 2PM.

Things The Balvenie

I went to a delightful little tasting last night with three comrades, Phil, Michael, and Brent. We tasted Balvenie 12 year, Balvenie 15 year single barrel, Balvenie Doublewood 12 year, and the Balvenie Portwood 21 year. Lovely drams and some pretty tasty hors d'ouvres. I can safely say, a good time was had by all.

Things Pre-Wedding

Pre-wedding things to do and there is a big list but between the two of us we are chipping away at it. Most important thing to do is to get the marriage license and in Ramsey County, unlike Hennepin you have only one place. The Department of Health building on 555 Cedar Street. After you apply, you wait five days before the actual license arrives. We are cutting it a bit close. We have dining ware, beer, pop, flowers, some food, and a plan for the other food. We are praying for good weather and good humours. We want no crabbiness or bummers. Our pre-marital counseling is finished and it was really good having it with Rev. Joanie.

Things Post-Easter

The invitations are out, almost. The flowers ordered. The rings are here. Laurel's outfit is all set. Pearls are being strung. Food being planned. Wedding program being created. Music is set, I think. Mead is bottled and maturing. Beer is ordered. We need to find a house/home to live in.

Things Easter

My second Holy week and Easter celebration with Laurel and it is good. Attended Good Friday services and will attend Easter Vigil on Saturday, and Easter services on Sunday. This weekend we will probably be sending out wedding invitations and just hanging.

I spent Maundy Thursday hosting a Scotch tasting at Merlin's Rest. We tasted the Isle of Arran 10 year, Scapa 16 year, Talisker 18 year, and the Island of Jura Prophecy . WE have two more tastings and I wonder what we should do?

Love Things

"Love is the expansion of two natures in such fashion that each include the other, each is enriched by the other" Lao Tzu

Love is good. It is good to be connected with another person. Comfortable with them, enriched by them, appreciated, accepted, and loved. My desire and hope is that this relationship is my last best one. She complements me in so many areas that it is a joy to be with her. We cook, play, attend concerts and operas together, and talk for hours and hours about everything. She sees the joy and beauty in the world around us. Giving of herself to so many people around her is very attractive to me. When I gaze on her when she is sleeping I am amazed at how lucky I am and how beautiful she really is both inside and out.

Divorce things or Things divorce

Katherine and I are divorced. The decree came down from on high and as of 14 May 2010, I am no longer married to her. She is without a doubt a very kind, generous, loving, sensitive, and intelligent woman. We were not compatible. I didn't get along with her children (if I had realized earlier about her kids, I would never have married.) That is neither here nor there. We are finished. I suspect we will be friends, not close friends but acquaintances.

It was interesting. There is a saying, "When one door closes, another opens". And so it is, to quote Mr. Darcey in Pride & Prejudice" - I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." I am becoming attached to someone very dear to me. What began as friends hanging out with friends is now something more. Yet, it still must reveal itself completely. Everyday is a new feeling and a new discovery. Thoughts, emotions, feelings, and contemplation about where is it going. The journay is certainly exciting, however, the end is still far off. I am determined to let it ride and enjoy all these wonderful feelings, thoughts, and emotions of this thing we call love.