Husband and Wife

My little bro is officially hitched. Wendy looked beautiful (she made the dress), and I have to say that I have gained a fabulous sister...They're leaving for Italy tomorrow, actually doing some island hopping of their own, but in the Mediterranean. More pix follow.

You May Kiss the Bride

Butterflies instead of Rice

Wendy's nieces, Siobhan (pictured) and Chloe, released butterflies at the end of the ceremony.

Heisterkamps and Wiehardts

Back row from left to right: Wendy's mom and dad; twin brothers, Charlie (with baby Ella) and Chris; Wendy and Bryan; my Dad; Wendy's sister, Rebecca; her brother Dave, and his wife, Jen. In the front row, Charlie's wife, Heather; niece Siobhan; my mom and I; and niece Chloe.

Wedding Cake

Neither of them wanted the traditional wedding cake for their brunch reception, so they went with a cream puff tower and chocolate mousse cups.

My Dad w/Legos

They had an arts and crafts table on one side of their living room, to encourage people to make something for a scrapbook. (People could also make things from legos--a lot of engineers were present--and then take pictures of them for the scrapbook.) Here, my dad looks for pieces to build a Texas flag, despite years of making fun of Texans for their inordinate levels of state pride. I guess the former Midwesterner has finally been converted.

Legos

Some of the guests' lego creations. I contributed the bride and groom, (center). My dad, of course, made the Texas flag. He and Wendy's mom pulled down the Colorado flag picture from the internet, but he didn't have time to build it in legos. Wendy's brother, Chris, built the butterfly, and her nieces did the rose (right). Her sister made a spider, which isn't pictured. Note the carrot with its cup of juice, and the dog replica of their dog, Maki. I spent a lot of time with Wendy's brothers and sister at the reception (they're all really fun people). Her sister is also a writer, and was in charge of photographs--she took most of these.

Long-Distance Dedication

I'm currently two fingers from Denver (first stop on my way to Kauai) according to the airline map on the monitor on the seatback in front of me, having successfully gotten way too much stuff down the six flights of stairs this morning, still thinking of the wonderful New Yorkers who saw me off for this summer of writing, with beer, cupcakes, brandied tarts, short wave radios, Tom Waits, books, good-natured promises to read this blog, and most of all, encouragement. This blog is dedicated to islanders everywhere, but especially to these New Yorkers and to my Kauai friend, Gay, who generously made this trip possible. Thanks to all of you, and aloha.

The Folding Cliffs

Climbing in the dark she felt the small stones turn
along the spine of the path whose color kept rising in her mind
burned-in color moment of rust dried blood color other color
gone color by day and she knew what color was there
when she could not see it and when one of the stars was the darkness
Before any breath of daylight and the way was in her feet again
the star of Kao'ea rushed between clouds when the dawn wind
came toward her down across the ridges of the mountain
carrying the scent of water from the peak of Waialeale
-- "The Folding Cliffs: A narrative of 19th-century Hawaii" by W.S. Merwin