The party of the year, 2001

This might look like a rather normal wedding cake cutting picture. But for those of us who were there on that hot August 4, 2001 Saturday we know what followed. The next photos, if I had one, captured Nat and Mike smashing cake and frosting into each other's face just as the cake should have gone into their mouths. Who started it? Who knows? But it triggered the party mood that followed the beautiful wedding ceremony which made Mike's hands sweat and brought tears to his eyes when he held Nat's hand to say "I do" and put the ring on her finger. This triggered Natalie's nerves into a tickling giggle she had to force under control to answer "I do" and allow Mike to kiss the bride as directed by Pastor David who conducted the ceremony in his wool Scottish kilt and jacket.

After all the family wedding pictures Nat and Mike joined their waiting guests under the big party tent to greet them and make sure everyone was enjoying the great food. When Mike disappeared from Nat's side people asked "Where's Mike?" But,we didn't have to look too hard. Mike, took his host role seriously and had decided his guests weren't being served fast enough by some overloaded staff. He took a position at the roast beef table and was carving and serving the meat to guests. With his suit coat off he looked like one of the vested servers.

Towards the end of the meal and to kick off the dancing part of the festivities Natalie led a congo line out around the tent and back. She and Mike danced as bride an groom while we guests provided the bubbles that surrounded them. Natalie danced with her Dad, the only time in her life, to Frank Sinatra singing, "The Way You Look Tonight". Watching them together left no doubt as from where Natalie gets her good looks.

The dancing went into the night and even some of us older folks surprised the younger crowd by our funky moves and endurance.

Nat and Mike had to have been surprised when they saw their mothers dancing the twist together to the very end of the song.

Lauren and Sheryl and friends, Megan and Dan, proved to be on the wild side in their dancing form. They danced until they, especially Sheryl , literally dropped. Another photo out there shows Sheryl "conked out" with her head laying on a table and a glass of drink at the tip of her open hand. For most of us at the Nat's and Mike's wedding it was the party of the year and we all felt it in our tired bodies the next morning.

Happy Anniversary Nat and Mike! Keeping the party alive in your love is now the challenge for you and the rest of us marrieds until our next big wedding party. Sheryl, will there be dancing?

Love,

Mom