Report from the Bucket Crew

Dear Family,
In whimsical (love that word) fashion I have named Holly, Jordan, and I " The Bucket Crew". All inquires as to why "must be submitted in writing" (Gene Wilder in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). This past weekend was a sad one for our family. Holly and I said to each other that Jim Cecil's passing just doesn't seem real. We went to church yesterday and I really missed not having Brother Cecil come over after Sacrament Meeting and seek up and give the old " massage your shoulders then give you a hug" welcome technique. Wrestling with the fact that he is gone another part of me says that in death we need to celebrate his life. We will all miss things about him but its important that we carry out within ourselves those positive characteristics about Jim that made him a dear friend. I suppose I need to work harder at my thumb wrestling skills.

A comment on Keek-Pooter and Seen-Luke-Picard(Carl's wonderful nickname for Sean). Our family was bewildered about what had struck Lauren when she started hanging out with Sean. I remember Sean when he was a Deacon fresh from Sunday school and learning the ropes about Sacrament distribution. Now he had returned home from his mission tour and was "courting" the sis that seemed immune to silly puppy love. As we all stood astonished at how strong Lauren felt about Sean we realized that their was something unique about Sean. Now we are waiting when a Keek-Pooter II or a Seen-Luke-Picard Jr will wisk these two into parenthood. I will not go on about it but let's just say that the match made was like finding your missing sock in the Cain basement: A Divine Miracle.

A comment on Cara and Aubrey's wedding. We were almost to the farm house were Cara's wedding was and I felt a sharp pain on my arm. My girlfriend (now wife) had given me the worst pinch ever recorded to my memory. I cannot recall what I said or did to deserve such an offense but I know it was over done. Retaliation then counter retalition. Two juvenile mid-late twenty year olds in the back of Mom and Dad's minivan having a Cain pinching reenactment. Bruised and tired we stopped when Mom turned and asked "what is going on".

We finally arrived at the farm house and it was like a little oasis in the middle of the mountains. A nice pond, green vegetation all around, and nice farm house. Truely a picturesque place for a wedding. Holly and I had never met Cara's fiancee. We politely shook hands with him as he smiled warmly to us. We quickly noticed that Aubrey was a soft spoken and gentle person. The ceremony was delightful and Cara's dress and Tiara matched perfectly with the surroundings. The whole ceremony against the background reminded me of an enchanted wedding in a fairy tale. One of my favorite pictures is the one on our family calender when Aubrey is kissing Cara on the cheek. As I visualize Aubrey and Cara I see them safely nestled in their little oasis in Vermont smiling as they converse about having some little turky nerds and Aubrites running around.

Carl-Happy Belated Birthday. We missed you this past weekend. Be on the look out for something that will come periodically in the mail. By the way are you still running? When you and Amber and Grace come for thanksgiving I propose when have a turkey run (before eating).

Signing out- love Zach