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Jeff and I have moved more times than I want to count. We have always done it ourselves. the packing, the loading, the unloading. This move would be different. We only lived in 900 square feet, so when we were giving an estimate on the cost of the move we could afford for them to pack us as well. It seemed very strange not looking for boxes, newspaper and buying a case of packing tape. We had packed a few boxes in order to get the clutter out of our house but for the most part we did not look as if we were moving.

Thursday morning six men descended on the condo. Sue walked Ellie, our dog to the vet around the corner, we had decided it would be best if we boarded her for the night. Two men were in each room wrapping, stuffing and taping boxes. A few hours into it the manager’s phone rang. I could tell by his responses that things were not going as planned. When the original paperwork work came out I was a bit concerned. The topic of conversation seemed to be centered around us having more stuff than they anticipated.

More stuff? Actually we lost a daughter and all her stuff. Sure there were a few more thing because of the wedding, but certainly there was less stuff then when the estimate was made.

The packers finished up that afternoon. Jeff flew in from Florida and entered a box filled condo. We left Ellie over night figuring the stress of all the boxes may be too much for her and us. There was a part of me that wished I could be boarded for the next month.

The next morning Jeff headed to the storage unit to up a the remaining furniture items we had removed when trying to sell the condo…more stuff. The movers arrived and began loading the truck. There seemed to be more unpacked items then they had expected causing some frustration between the packers and the movers. The truck was loaded. I was given a stack of papers which listed all our belongings or at least the box number that they were located in. The truck took off, all our belongings with it and we stood in an empty condo.

Early that evening the buzzer rang. It was two beeps, Raun and Pam had driven down to spend the last night in the condo. They brought their own blow-up mattress and made the empty living room their room. Sue slept on a twin blow-up mattress Austyn’s room and Jeff and I were on a double blow-up in our room. Left with suitcases full of clothes that we had planned to take us through the next several weeks. There were a few paper plates and plastic cups in the kitchen. It’s a strange feeling sleeping in a an empty place that hours before was home.

The next morning we took Sue to Union Station, Pam and Raun drove back to WI, Jeff and I loaded the car with suitcases, blow-up mattresses, doggy things, the rosemary plant and my coffee plant. We left the city. Our condo had not sold, instead we decided to rent it out for the first year. We still had one foot in the door but we were heading West and our first stop would only be 45 minutes away to spend the weekend with our close friends.

There were three receptions planned after the wedding. We made our way to Wisconsin for a cookout the beginning of the July 4^th weekend. Mostly family attended this one. It was a great time. The second was held in Chicago. Our Jakes reception was perfect. Friends drove in from the suburbs for a tastes city life. Jakes was empty that afternoon and we took over the back room. It was the perfect choice for our Chicago reception.

The following Monday, Brain and Austyn filled the jeep with gifts and any items that had been left behind and headed back to Colorado. Jeff and I flew to Denver the following weekend.

Brian’s parents had made the arrangements for the reception there. They had reserved a brewery as the location. Excellent choice since finding great breweries is what Jeff and Brian love to do. Not only was there great food and drink but also personal tours of the brewery itself. It was a perfect end to what seemed to be a month of celebrations.

Jeff was flying to Florida immediately after the reception for a convention. This meant that when he had left for this weekend he was packed for the next month of transition. I was returning home for our final week in the condo. The packers would be there on Thursday and the moving van on Friday. Unsure of the emotional effect this week may have, I had asked my sister Sue to spend it with me. We both arrived at Midway Airport, she much earlier than I. We made our way to the El, boarded the Orange Line and headed into the city. We had two days to play, get the last tasked completed on the to do list, which included having the car tuned up for the trip west and go to all the fun restaurants in the neighborhood that I had been waiting to share with her, of course Jakes was top on that list.

 

Sometime in the afternoon on Tuesday, June 24^th had ended. As planned we were left on the island for three more days to recover. The beach, good food, more beach and naps. We spent time with family member who had also planned to spend the week. Taking walks, searching for sand dollars, sitting on our little beach chairs deep in discussion not realizing the tide was coming in and being swept over by the first big wave. It was a wonderful end to a wonder week.

Friday finally came and we were faced with the long ride home. Much less stuff came home with us, beverages had been consumed, gifts had been given and decorations thrown away. Our only mistake was to think we could make the long journey home as we had made it just one week ago. We were driving through Indiana around midnight when we stopped for gas. I realized that it seem much more windy than normal for this part of the country. The talk in the gas station surrounded the tornadoes that were all around us. Should we stop? I asked. No one else seem to fell the pressure to do so. As we got back on the highway I asked ‘what does a tornado look like at night? How do you know it’s coming?’ The response convinced me that I wasn’t the only one concerned with our current situation. However, we pushed on and made it safely through the wind and the rain and the wind and more rain until we reach the Illinois border. It was 3:00 in the morning when we arrived home. Clearly we did not have the energy or the excitement we had just one week ago. The van would stay packed. We made our way down Clark Street passed Jake which had already closed and down, around the corner down Oakdale to our building. In less than a month we would be packing up a much bigger van with all our belonging and heading to the west coast this time, not for a week, not for a wedding but for life.

Tuesday arrived. Breakfast at our house for anyone that wanted to join us. Renee was off to Walmart for those last minute purchases. Decorations were taking to the house where the reception was being held. Of coarse there was time built in to be at the beach.

As Jeff and I left the decorated reception area to make our way to the beach we both paused as we noticed Austyn kneeling on the ground in her swim top and shorts painting the word WEDDING on a piece of drift wood she had found earlier that morning. The board was naturally shaped on one end as if it were an arrow. Austyn has always found a way to make sure the details are done creatively and what Austyn thinks are important details no one else would ever think of. We laughed to ourselves as we realized how “Austyn” this day was. Our only daughter was getting married today and we were making our way to the beach to relax for a few hours before the ceremony. Sometime in the afternoon was feeling just fine.

It was finally time to get ready. We showered, dressed and checked in on Renee’. All seemed to be going well. Austyn, her cousin Carolyn, Pam and I made our way to the home where the reception was being held to get Austyn ready. Nails, hair, jewelry and the dress, she was beautiful. We were ready to make our way down the stairs when the thought crossed Austyn’s mind that she should go to the bathroom. When Austyn was little we called her the Potty Princess. It seemed as if she never had any warning that she needed to go to the bathroom. When she announced she had to go…she had to go. This seemed to always happen in the car. We would all laugh, announce to each other that the Potty Princess needed to go and the next restroom was the best. As the five of us looked at each other, Derk was in the room as well, we headed to the bathroom, each took a corner of the dress, lifted it up and Austyn sat down and Derk snapped the picture.

As I made my way out of the bedroom I realized that most of the family were still downstairs and not at the beach as earlier directed. “We are ready, please make your way to the beach”. As if they had been taken by surprise, they left the house and were on their way. The home we were using was a short walk to the beach, most likely under a half mile. A short beach walk that is but a very long isle walk in comparison to a church. The only ones left at the house were Austyn, Jeff and Derk. Jeff and Austyn began their walk. They talked and laughed, each time I glanced back to see where they were they were both wiping their eyes. That walk was the best part of the wedding for Jeff. His advise to every father facing that same walk; make it as long as possible, walk around the block if you have to.

Down the road, over the steps that crossed the small dunes and onto the beach. Austyn was barefoot and Jeff removed his sandals once on the sand. The family had gathered in a circle facing the water. Austyn and Brian would stand with their backs to the water and Matt, the minister would stand in the center of the circle. As we witnessed the ceremony the ocean was the backdrop. It was an amazing sight. As Austyn had planned it made the best pictures.

Brian cried as Austyn and Jeff walked toward him and that is all it took. We all cried with him. Vows, tears, a maid of honor who was a man and Austyn’s smile that said it all. This was right, this was good and this day was everything she had hoped for.

As the ceremony ended, Austyn and Brian walked down the beach. We made our way back up the hill and began to party. Music, dancing, drinks, amazing food, pictures, laughing and a beautiful sunset. For the father daughter dance Austyn had planned a surprise for Jeff. In October of the previous year, Jeff had agreed to do a recording for me. One of the songs on the CD was a lullaby that he sang to Austyn when she was a little girl. This was the song she had chosen to dance to. More tears, more laughter and a bit more perfection.

As we ended the evening, Brian and Austyn made their way back to change clothes and and leave the island. One more time we found ourselves saying good bye, this time it was to Mrs. Brian Ford.

With the wedding scheduled for sometime in the afternoon on Tuesday, we had given ourselves Sunday and Monday to play and prepare. Most of the family were arriving Sunday. After a day at the beach, we had invited everyone to our home for dinner and a movie. Buffalo Wings are one of our favorite things to eat when we are together, so we planned a wings night. Wings, fries, veggies and drinks. Those family members who were already settled in arrived early. Other who were just arriving to the island came over before they settled in. Introductions, greetings, a ton of conversations and enough wings to feed an army, all in all it was a great night.

Monday was day two at the beach. There were a few favors to be made and a few reception preparations that needed to be started, but we left plenty of time for sun and sand. Monday evening was another party. Brian’s parents had invited everyone to their home for BBQ. One more night of laughter, conversation, great food and fun. Austyn is a photographer, so choosing her photographer for the wedding was a major decision. It just so happened that her professor and head of the photography department was willing to make the trip. Derk arrived on Monday and was at our Monday evening celebration. By the end of the evening he looked a bit puzzled. “I’ve taken more great pictures in one night than I usually get for an entire event.” The wedding was still ahead of us.

Brian and Austyn returned to Chicago on Thursday. We were to pick up the rental van Friday at noon, load and take off for what we had hoped was a 16 hour road trip to Holden Beach NC. The home we had rented were fully furnished but there was plenty of extra cooking equipment and supplies needed. There were a few things we felt we could leave to chance. In a small beach town where Walmart is the main means of supplies and the nearest Walmart is 20 minutes away, you do have to anticipate not being able to gather all your supplies in one place.

Adult beverages were another consideration. Brain and Austyn had chosen a wine called Fat Bastered as their wedding wine. They both claim that they love the taste, I think the name may have helped their decision making. As the mother of the bride I chose a Ginger Vodka as my beverage choice for the weekend. After searching most of the liquor stores in Chicago, we found my favorite band. The company had changed the bottling and in doing so raised the price about $10 per bottle. This particular store was selling through the old bottle at almost half the price. Needless to say the van was loaded with several cases of alcohol.

We were loaded and with very little room to spare. Our chief and close friend of the family was 5 months pregnant at the time. As Renee’ and I settled into our seat a few of those last minute items were loaded. When all was complete, Renee and I found ourself talking to each other through the Orchids which were purchased at the corner flower shop in our neighborhood. Wedding dress lay across the back of the van. We were on our way.

We had planned to meet up with two other parties in Indianapolis. Erin and Rachael, Austyn’s long time friends, were driving down to spend the week with us and Nikki and Matt were joining Brian and Austyn in the Jeep. We pulled into a Starbucks parking lot on the north side of Indianapolis around 11:15pm. In what should have been a “load um up and let’s get going” became a meet and greet time. Almost one hour later we were back on the road.

Breakfast was at McDonald’s in Charleston, West Virgina. Every stop seemed as if it took longer than the last. A quick bathroom break could turn into a 45min luncheon. Pam and Raun had flown into Charlotte the day before in order for Raun to show Pam some of his favorite childhood memories. They arrived to the island well before we did. Raun called me that morning. “I can see why Austyn wants to get married here. We just drove over the bridge, it’s beautiful.”

There is only one bridge that takes you to Holden Beach. As you approach the bridge you are in the midst of a typical small souther beach area. Little wooden shakes that are favorite hang outs, a few surf shops, a huge outdoor ice machine that appears to have sufficient ice supple to fill a dump truck. The bridge is a high, long winding bridge. It is not until you are at the half way point that you can see the island. A long narrow beach lined with large beach homes. There are just a few restaurants but very little commerce on the beach itself. We were still hours away from the bridge.

It was around 3:30pm when we arrived. Our over night trip had turned into an almost 24 hour trip. We were thrilled as we walked through our rental home, it was perfect. We unloaded, had a quick bit to eat and headed to the beach to look around.