Guest Post: A Guest’s Perspective
I love weddings…………………..BUT, I have never in all my breathing days attended one alone. My sisters were also invited to the grand and glorious affair, but one was having surgery day before and the other already had weekend plans, so I went solo.
ON FRIDAY – Tom’s neice/cousin (that’s a WEIRD family tree) is a very dear friend of mine. She was at the church for rehearsal and I was supposed to meet her there. Popping into a room full of strangers is not exactly my idea of a good time, ESPECIALLY not at a wedding rehearsal. So I stalled as long as humanly possible, hoping that everything would be well under way, I could slip in, grab my friend, and quickly leave before anyone even noticed. HA! Brianna rushed to my vehicle, hugs me fiercely, and then drags me into the church to a sea of unfamiliar faces. (This is where I gulp, paste a smile on my face, and pretend I’m not feeling stupid for being there.) Turns out that people from Oregon are not actually ogres, and those from Indiana are not as intimidating close up as they are from a distance. I was privileged to meet Tom and Jewel both for the first time. There is an awful lot of personality that flow from the two of them………gotta love it. There are some people you meet in life that are impossible NOT to love, that’s Tom and Jewel!
ON SATURDAY – Ah, the wedding. If nothing else, they sure picked a hot day. I don’t understand how you can live in Indiana and not melt completely. Anytime I stepped outside I was afraid someone was going to have to come along with a towel and sop up my remains from the floor. IT WAS REALLY HOT, and disgustingly sticky. I was thankful for simple things like, air-conditioning, and the common sense not to have an outdoor wedding! The best part of the wedding? Music! Lots of great music! My idea of a good wedding is lots of music and a bridal party that does not sit down which always makes the audience smile because they know that the pastor will then keep it short and sweet. AHQ sang four songs and then galloped to their positions as groom and groomsmen. The bridesmaids wore black (which delighted me because black is my favorite color of all time……) and they would have been very elegant except for the fact that they were all in their bare feet, so it turned from elegant to absolutely adorable….. I loved it! The miniature bride was a living doll, and the miniature groom was quite a handsome little guy who recognized the fact that boys were not intended to stand still in front of a church for any extended period of time. He was hysterical! The bride. The bride was beauty as she glided down the aisle to the gorgeous, four-part ladies arrangement of “Canon in D”. And our favorite blogger? Well, he looked rather pleased………and Jewel didn’t back out, so his delight intensified.
FAVORITE SONGS
“This is the Day” sung by Ginger Good (my “Soul Sistah” from SMBI), Suzanne Good (my “Soul Sistah’s sistah and now good friend) Rosie Leichty (another new friend from Oregon with whom I shared very helpful bits of advice for her 25th wedding anniversary celebration….she better invite me!) and Merry Yoder (a dear friend who REALLY should comment in blogs more…..). Okay so out of all the songs they did, this was my favorite and they all liked it the least. I’m not sure what that says of my taste.
“Canon in D”, has to be the most effective when performed vocally! Beautiful!!!!
“Faithfully” sung by the best man, Byran Smucker and his aunt Rosie Leichty. GREAT song! The “kissing” part threw me off the first time I heard it, but……
“The Countdown” sung loudly by Mr. Trevin Smucker who was sitting right behind me as he “patiently” waited to go eat. (This was not on the program :) )
OTHER STUFF
I made the brilliant discovery that I adore all Krabills. If you know one that I won’t like, throw them my way so I can crash my theory on how well Beachys and Krabills get along.
Tom WOULD have tea at his wedding!
I folded lots of programs. Is anyone impressed?
I found out that as Miss Barb tried to tell me, sitting by yourself at a wedding isn’t all that bad.
Never let chocolate covered coffee beans sit in your car when you are in Indiana.
Never try to throw gum out the window of your car. I just can’t seem to make it work. I did and found it the next day on my window.
Green gum turns white if it boils on your window for a few hours. It also smears quickly if you are stupid enough to try to put your window down to get it off. (Hey, some of us have to DO to learn…..)
Weddings are fun.
Bridesmaids in bare feet are adorable. The thought of groomsmen doing likewise is just not as cute!
Yes, it all has to do with Indiana, Tom and Jewel. Even the gum on the window. This my friends, is not even scratching the surface of a beautiful wedding and two beautiful people! It is just a small glimpse……..from my perspective.
33 Responses
July 6th, 2005 at 11:15 pm
Ag, thanks for the great write-up. How sweet! Just about made me cry. I have one thing to say about the wedding day, I sure don’t remember the heat! Guess my mind was too busy with “other” things!!! Love ya, Jewel
July 7th, 2005 at 12:21 am
I wanted to be at that wedding so bad especially after the fact when I heard everyone’s stories. Thanks for the description of the day. I could feel the Indiana heat, see those bare feet, hear Trevin singing….
July 7th, 2005 at 12:34 am
Yes, yes, great post, Ag!! And thank God for air conditioning. :-D
The Baritone
July 7th, 2005 at 4:30 am
That was a very interesting post! Ag, I hope that writing it was an enjoyable experience, and I hope to either see more from you in the future, or, even better, your own blog!
No pressure or anything!
Thanks for the description of the wedding; sounds like they pulled it off with some of that AHQ/ITF panache!
July 7th, 2005 at 8:50 am
Thanks AG for the contribution! That should get us through till Tom and Jewel get settled in at home and have the time to bring ITF back to life.
Hey Tom, you won’t believe who stopped by last night. It was your sis Jeanne, Kevin, and Cody! They had just finished giving a program at church last night (Gospel Express Northwest Team) and were asking for a phone line and dial-up numbers to check email. I of course suggested that they come back to tap my wireless network with their laptop. This allowed them to get email much faster on my connection! We also got a number of windows security updates that were available. The 10 MB download only took about 50 seconds!
Jeanne did take note of the oppresive humidity that we have around here. She sorta had that longing look in her eye to get back to Oregon! Better look out Jewel, if Tom gets tired of the Indiana heat you might find yourself heading west!
Rob
July 7th, 2005 at 11:24 am
Great Post Ag! Sounds like you had a wonderful time time despite the heat.
July 7th, 2005 at 6:23 pm
Good work Ag, you are a natural at this blogging! Thanks for the insiders view of the wedding and your personal inclusions that livened up the scene for us. Wish I could have heard the music, did Tom record it so he can post a clip?!
July 7th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
If Tom relenquishes his rights to tend his site, he must REALLY be in love!!!
Dave M
July 7th, 2005 at 10:34 pm
I am impressed that you folded lots of programs, Ag. *impish grin*
It was,indeed, a great write-up. You make me smile.:)
–Delia
July 8th, 2005 at 1:02 am
Ag, why in the world don’t you start a blog??Promise we’d come and visit!!!
July 8th, 2005 at 7:45 am
Anon, first of all if I knew who you were,you might be more convincing. :)
Why don’t I start a blog? Well first of all, there are WAY to many blogs and Xanga sites in existence. They multiply faster than rabbits. I think it’s pointless to blog if you cannot offer more than what is already being offered. SECONDLY, I’m not sure if I trust myself. I am totally live in the minute, outrageously impulsive AND that’s topped with a really big mouth and the inability to sit still in the “mind box” that other people think I should be sitting in. If you have met up with me in the blog world, you would know that REALLY doesn’t work to well and I am very gifted at innocently stepping on peoples toes, crunching them and causing unpleasant scenes! Does that sound like reason enough?
Ag
July 8th, 2005 at 8:22 am
Well Ag, I am not anon but I say no that’s not a good enough excuse. Sometimes people need their toes stepped on so they wake up and notice what is going on around them. And since when would you ever think you need to stay in the box people put you in. That is why you would be good you make people think outside of their comfortable little boxes they have created.
July 8th, 2005 at 8:29 am
Oh wait a second somehow your first reason didnt register before I made my first comment – It doesnt have to be more just different and yours would ceratinly be that I am sure.
July 8th, 2005 at 10:17 am
I understand Anita. The blog explosion is mind boggling, however, there is room for some one with SOMETHING to say!, and I think that you have much to offer.
That said, I think that you do well in using the comment sections of your favorite blogs to get your views out to us, a blog would only place you in one place making it easier to keep up with what you are saying. Although, now that I think about it, I don’t use mine as well as I should, and I am all over the place too! {:^) So, I will NOT pressure you to start a blog as some do. YOU KNOW yourself better than we do. Follow your heart as God leads you in this decision.
A last thought in closing!
MAYBE you could just set up a co-blogging position with Tom, Darin, or By. Jeanette and newton do this on the Oh How I Love Jesus site of Jeanette’s. It would free you from total maintainence of the site! Anyway, just a thought. {:^)
July 8th, 2005 at 12:22 pm
Great post, Ag.
July 8th, 2005 at 12:37 pm
Ag…thats what makes blogs fun…when they step on our toes and we all get into these debates!! So see..all your excuses don’t amount to much and if your impulsive..well good…then your post won’t be so stuffy!! C’MON!!!!!!!~LE
July 8th, 2005 at 12:50 pm
I also want to join the bandwagon of insisting that AG get her own blog. She needs her own online presence to express herself as herself. This whole thing might turn into another beloved “controversy” that Tom will enjoy. Cmon AG, its the year 2005! The time has come for you to get your own blog. I would recommend this service (blogger.com)that Tom uses instead of Xanga because you can post pictures for free on here. I am pretty sure you have to buy Xanga Premium to put pics on a Xanga page. Lets all encourage AG to get it done! Hip,hip horaaay! for AG!!
July 9th, 2005 at 3:31 am
actually you can post pics for free on xanga.
rande
July 9th, 2005 at 9:05 am
Rob, I dislike Xanga and I am not good at bowing to the demands of insistent people. :) And also I do generally express myself as myself…….that seems to be the problem.
LE, I have yet to find the positives in being impulsive.
TS, sure. I’m heading to the phone to call up all the bloggers I know asking if I can be a guest blogger. HA! You obviously don’t know me very well. That is actually quite funny.
Susie, stepping on toes can be a good thing, if it causes them enough pain to make them think……eh, I’m afraid that’s not exactly what I tend to do. I stomp, twist, wait until they yell and then suddenly realize what I did and have to go try to find ice….
Ag
July 11th, 2005 at 11:28 am
Of course, if Ag started her own Blog, Tom’s might not be as busy. The commenting on By’s slowed down a lot (I think!) after Tom got his, so I can imagine Ag would have a simalar effect. Not that I don’t think she should have one though!!!!!
Lauren
July 11th, 2005 at 12:10 pm
Ag, I’m eagerly awaiting your reply to these attempts to convince you of the need for your own blog. :) I know you won’t disappoint me in your response. I do admire you for standing your ground on the issue. :)
Karen
July 11th, 2005 at 5:05 pm
Karen, perhaps it’s just my thick-headed nature making it’s way to the surface. I just don’t know about me blogging! I have many reasons to hesitate and I only mentioned a few. I have never stopped though to consider the positives of it though. I always say “I shouldn’t because….blah, blah, blah…”
HA! I just told Dorcas that I should start a Dutch blog. HYSTERICS! Those “Dutch woman” are crazy! They cause me to hoot to the utmost.
Ag
July 12th, 2005 at 1:03 pm
Ag, you need a blog, girlfriend,
On this we all agree.
You’re funny, yet insightful,
And this we clearly see–
Since you live in the moment,
Thinking out-of-the-box,
We relish your perspective–
We in our boxes locked.
And we need our toes stepped on–
It cracks them and limbers us up.
They help us laugh at ourselves–
Your comments “off the cuff”.
You have something to offer
To this great world of blog
You’re fresh and you’re original–
A light amidst life’s fog.:)
–Delia
July 12th, 2005 at 3:09 pm
Bravo, Delia!
BTW…
WHERE IS TOM!!!!
July 12th, 2005 at 3:34 pm
OK, Ag, start a Dutch blog, but you have to have a translation feature for us non-dutchies. :)
July 12th, 2005 at 4:25 pm
In your wildest dreams Paul! I prefer to snicker madly behind your back. And you lose the beauty through translation!!!
Ag
July 12th, 2005 at 11:15 pm
Oh and Delia, no one has ever been inspired to write poetry about me before……pardon me while I go dry my eyes as I relish the sheer beauty of the moment.
Ag
July 13th, 2005 at 3:33 pm
Tom, Just a note to encourage you to take your time coming back to the blog world. It is more important to keep your wife happy than the people that read your blog. Enjoy your new married life!!!!! I wouldn’t trade it for anything (especially blogging!)!!!
Teresa
July 14th, 2005 at 1:09 am
“TS, sure. I’m heading to the phone to call up all the bloggers I know asking if I can be a guest blogger. HA! You obviously don’t know me very well. That is actually quite funny.”
Precisely Ag, that is the point. Most of us do not know you! What is so funny about wanting to know someone better even if the only way is to read what they have to say? You have produced a guest blog post on ITF, why not make the arrangement regular; you and Tom obviously mix well.
No, I do not know you well, we do not travel in the same circles, maybe we shall meet someday, until then I only have these blogs to visit with you and all of the other folks out there in the blogosphere to discuss the issues of the day and share life with in a broader way than I do in my little physical part of this world.
What ever you choose to do I will support. As I have said, you know yourself better than we do out here in the blogdoms, do what you know is best for you, and thank you for your input on our many blogs, you do present a challenge to my way of thinking.
July 14th, 2005 at 7:45 am
Talk to Tom, not me!
Ag
July 14th, 2005 at 6:44 pm
Now that was an interesting umm…shall we say, exchange of ideas. I’m just a happenstance here, a blog surfer, but I am Jewel’s first cousin Ed. I echo Ag’s (whoever that is) eloquent rendition of the affair, and agree with her that barefoot bridesmaids and bride were “adorable”. The music was pure harmoney, esp the male singers (although I am also partial to Merry and Rosie’s voices).
Just a question – when’s Tom reappearing on the scene? And does Jewel have her own blog? I’m kinda new to this stuff.
~ED~
July 14th, 2005 at 8:18 pm
TS, you said, “The blog explosion is mind boggling.” You could also say the blog explosion is mind blogging. *grin*
Since it seems to be in vogue, I better congratulate you too on the quality of this blog post, Ag!
Since it also seems to be in vogue to encourage you to start your own blog, I better do that too! Ag, I encourage you to start your own blog! I would be glad to host it and install premium state-of-the-art blogging software for you. Tom has admitted that if he had his pick he would go with that instead of Blogger, but it’s too much trouble for him to move.
July 16th, 2005 at 8:30 am
Thank you Hans, I’ll keep that in mind.
Ag