1. Cal and Morgan's Wedding
I noticed that the people I was friends with who attended were some of the first to arrive (except for Jon, who was preening and ripping pants til the last minute) AND the last to leave. We like to get our money's worth from these things! It think that says good things about us. Anxious to be reliable AND we know how to have fun. I would say that sums up what I look for in a friend, actually....
Morgan and Cal entered the hall at exactly the same time, from different sides. There was a nice symmetry and equality in that. And they were both wearing a skirted outfit - so there's more equality on that front too. I was also excited to instantly recognise their song choice for that moment, having had my 'Juno' soundtrack on loop for weeks in a row. I was mouthing along with the words. It marked the moment as celebratory and upbeat with its hoe-down fiddling towards the end. And very very sweet, as well. The timing worked well with the line about 'be my bride' coming as they met at the front.
I missed it, but as Cal signed the certificate thingie, apparently you could see her bright green shoes peeking out from beneath her traditional wedding dress (elegantly flounceless). I think a lot of girls like the idea of fun coloured shoes secretly hiding under a long dress like that.
I saw a few people who I don't see often. In a fleeting Svend chat he told me about his 1kg pasta salad (which he later on leaped out of his seat to point out to me when I was approaching the buffet). I heard Jon and Steve muttering about me, and it turns out I'm a mysterious blue silhouette that Facebook keeps recommending he be friends with. I later on gave him one of my boquet flowers and our Facebook friendship has flourished from there.
There was mysterious Irish dancing which seemed to have rules to it, but they seemed to be somewhat flexible. I finally got to dance another Gay Gordan (I had practised and practised in the school hall for the one at my 6th form ball, only to have someone steal my date at the last minute leaving me standing alone on the sidelines). I still have very little idea of what was supposed to go on when you had just switched partners, but I liked the 'step step kick' bit.
Michelle put a Hutt tone on the evening by taking a multi-pronged approach to forcing DJ Max Malcolm into playing Guns 'n Roses. Once that track fiiiinally played we made sure everyone at our table got up and at least swayed a little so that Malcolm rued his 'Sweet Child of Mine' snobbery. We joined in the 'dance like nobody's watching' motto of the night.
I had a really good piece of cheesecake - no idea who made it, but it was delicious.
At the announcement that there was something to catch, I got overly excited and figured out likely trajectory and force.... and caught the bouquet. I have a very long reach..... And I have a small competitive steak some people may have noticed. Maybe the Ultimate Frisbee experience has helped me in such situations. Not quite sure what I was thinking there. Bouquet catching is an ocassion where the usual Judge Tactics* should be used. Though, I think at a Civil Union the usual rules may not be valid, so if Michelle and Gabrielle and co want to get married prior to me I think that'd be fine (and sensible given the likely long time-frame we're talking about).
I was very happy with my outfit choice for the day. It was comfortable! No sore feet. No unsightly sights (other than when I elegantly slightly missed my chair). No adjusting and minimal holding-down-in-the-wind required. And I can wear it again! And it was less than $100. That's good for a pretty dress, in my books.
And of course it was lovely to witness all the happy moments and beaming faces, particularly those of Cal and Morgan. They seemed to enjoy themselves, which is the most important factor!
2. Car Rally
I was up relatively early this morning and off to Levin for a car rally. It was everything I had dreamed it would be, and possibly a little more. It was like I was in a slow-motion version of 'The Amazing Race'. I was running to the first few clues, but then noticed that nobody else was (and that foraging for clues in somebody's garage was best done carefully rather than quickly).... so I had to revert to fast walking after that. To be fair, the event was not timed and was based on points from clues and special challenges. But in my head it was still a race!
A highlight was definitely watching my step-mother strip off to her knickers and bra and go on the hydro-slide to earn us a spot prize.... I have photos :)
There is more to say, but I will save that as I have already written lots and lots.
* At Christmas when we were little, everyone who pulled a cracker and won had to read out the enclosed joke to the family. Me and my brother were youngest cousins and both pretty shy and not into cheesy jokes.... So my brother devised a plan where he'd put a tiny rip in one end of the cracker, and then offer it to the other puller, keeping the pre-ripped end for himself. Using this tactic of pre-weakening his end, he could lose even to the weakest of relatives, like my grey-haired five-foot-tall Nana.
I'm thinking bouquet catching is possibly another ocassion where the Judge Tactic of intentionally throwing the event may be a viable decision. Next time I will take more care to not catch it..... or maybe I'll throw in a fake-fumble just as it's coming, where I 'accidentally' hit the bouquet back up in the air, towards other people.... Yeah, that's what I'll do... Winning is not always the most important thing (not when hasty marriage is a possible consequence).
