This summer I went to London to witness a dear friend's wedding, Michelle, in Wales. I had mentioned we combined it into a family holiday, as my mom and dad invited Jay and Ray to experience London with them, it really was a wonderful trip.
Michelle and I met in 1989 in Townsville, Australia. We were kindred spirits of sorts, we share a similar cheeky sense of humor and we were both very headstrong! Michelle I have always admired, she has always known what she wanted out of this life and gone for it. We knew we would always stay in touch and after we went our separate ways, we stayed in touch. Michelle visited me in Canada a few times over the years, and I went and spent time with her in San Francisco when she was at College studying for her law degree. Heather and I went and stayed with Michelle in London, and Wales in 1994, where we met her family. At time we have struggled to stay in touch, but when we do finally catch up it as if know time has passed and we pick up where we left off.
Michelle's wedding was magnificent, beautiful, perfect, stunning, outstanding. It was a classic English Wedding and Mom and Dad and I were invited to witness this very special day. Mom and Dad had gotten to know Michelle's husband to be, Grahame over the last couple of years. My great Aunt Maude passed away years ago and left her house to my dad, and he wanted to restore it. Grahame is in the construction business and he hired Grahame to oversee the renovation.
So a couple of funny stories to share about the wedding...we get there, I have not seen Michelle for over 10 years and we are not quite sure where the wedding is, we drive up to where we think the church is and see a bride and a guy coming out onto a lawn, and a wagon awaiting them. Mom is like I am sure this is another wedding not Michelle's. I said I hope so it would be so embarrassing to see the bride before the wedding, sure enough it is Michelle she is walking to the wagon and we are in a rental she is looking in to the vehicle, I am like hi Michelle. She's like OMG you are supposed to be at the church, you are not supposed to see me!!! Only you Stacy Anne would try to upstage me at my wedding!! We quietly follow the wagon to the church and try to quietly blend in with the crowd, and make are way into the church. It is a beautiful old church with so much character we find the last seats in the hallway and sit down patiently awaiting the main event. We are all under dressed as we quickly realize this is a very posh wedding.All the men are in formal suits and ties and the ladies are all wearing fancy hats. Dad is in a green sweater and pants and Mom and I are in casual dresses with sweaters...Yikes!
The wedding is beautiful Michelle walks down the isle with her brother and passes me shaking her finger at me saying Stacy Stacy you are sassy thing....she still can't believe that I have tried to move in on her day!! Oh Michelle we had a laugh over that didn't we!
Mom Dad and I stay for hors d'oeuvres, and then decide to head into town to a local pub before the dinner for a pint of beer. I am in 2 inch heels and have to go to the Loo when we get to the pub the bathrooms are downstairs, I miss the first stair out of 6 and end up crumpled in a pile at the bottom of the stairs. Big crash can be heard throughout the pub. I think I am so cool and composed sometimes and these goofy funny things happen to me and bring me back to reality quickly. Mom and Dad run to my rescue, and all I can do is start to laugh as it is hilarious and embarrassing and Mom and Dad start to laugh as well, we hadn't even had our first drink yet!
The next day looking for where the gift opening is we continued to let our presence be felt. We went to the neighbors instead of Michelle's and realizing we are at the wrong place Gary (Dad) backs up and runs over a big homemade barbecue, busting out a review light in the rental, and a leaving a great big scratch on the SUV he rented. The BBQ is full of bricks and dented as Gary quickly scrambles out to pick it up and Jay saunters out to help him. We hop in the vehicle to make our get away and someone from the house comes out witnessing everything asking if she can help us???? No its ok we were just looking for the gift opening and we accidently knocked down your BBQ...she gave us a look like you crazy redneck Canadians, and off we went...Lol, sorry my friend we wanted to make sure we were not forgotten! I believe we accomplished our goal.
I stayed for an extra day with Michelle and got to know Grahame better, and we shared some laughs, and a wonderful canoe ride on a beautiful day down a lazy river, it was very special.
Now some sadness, when I got back from London, all my symptoms started which led to the diagnosis of cancer. After Michelle and Grahames honeymoon, Grahame had not been feeling well, and he too was diagnosed with cancer...bladder cancer, and has since had an operation, and I am awaiting word hoping it has not spread. Life throws you some grenades I tell you.
Michelle and Grahame, I send you all of my love prayers and support. You are a beautiful couple, and have much strength to fight this battle, as I fight along with you. I love you, and we will beat this!
Michelle and her Brother Matt
Michelle and Grahame
Heather, Michelle, Annika and me in Townsville, Australia 1989
A couple of songs my friend to bring a smile and a memory to your heart...
Stop-Spice Girls -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JD6ejmlpa8&ob=av2e
She Drives me Crazy:-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=majFrn3j1Co&feature=fvst
Michelle and I met in 1989 in Townsville, Australia. We were kindred spirits of sorts, we share a similar cheeky sense of humor and we were both very headstrong! Michelle I have always admired, she has always known what she wanted out of this life and gone for it. We knew we would always stay in touch and after we went our separate ways, we stayed in touch. Michelle visited me in Canada a few times over the years, and I went and spent time with her in San Francisco when she was at College studying for her law degree. Heather and I went and stayed with Michelle in London, and Wales in 1994, where we met her family. At time we have struggled to stay in touch, but when we do finally catch up it as if know time has passed and we pick up where we left off.
Michelle's wedding was magnificent, beautiful, perfect, stunning, outstanding. It was a classic English Wedding and Mom and Dad and I were invited to witness this very special day. Mom and Dad had gotten to know Michelle's husband to be, Grahame over the last couple of years. My great Aunt Maude passed away years ago and left her house to my dad, and he wanted to restore it. Grahame is in the construction business and he hired Grahame to oversee the renovation.
So a couple of funny stories to share about the wedding...we get there, I have not seen Michelle for over 10 years and we are not quite sure where the wedding is, we drive up to where we think the church is and see a bride and a guy coming out onto a lawn, and a wagon awaiting them. Mom is like I am sure this is another wedding not Michelle's. I said I hope so it would be so embarrassing to see the bride before the wedding, sure enough it is Michelle she is walking to the wagon and we are in a rental she is looking in to the vehicle, I am like hi Michelle. She's like OMG you are supposed to be at the church, you are not supposed to see me!!! Only you Stacy Anne would try to upstage me at my wedding!! We quietly follow the wagon to the church and try to quietly blend in with the crowd, and make are way into the church. It is a beautiful old church with so much character we find the last seats in the hallway and sit down patiently awaiting the main event. We are all under dressed as we quickly realize this is a very posh wedding.All the men are in formal suits and ties and the ladies are all wearing fancy hats. Dad is in a green sweater and pants and Mom and I are in casual dresses with sweaters...Yikes!
The wedding is beautiful Michelle walks down the isle with her brother and passes me shaking her finger at me saying Stacy Stacy you are sassy thing....she still can't believe that I have tried to move in on her day!! Oh Michelle we had a laugh over that didn't we!
Mom Dad and I stay for hors d'oeuvres, and then decide to head into town to a local pub before the dinner for a pint of beer. I am in 2 inch heels and have to go to the Loo when we get to the pub the bathrooms are downstairs, I miss the first stair out of 6 and end up crumpled in a pile at the bottom of the stairs. Big crash can be heard throughout the pub. I think I am so cool and composed sometimes and these goofy funny things happen to me and bring me back to reality quickly. Mom and Dad run to my rescue, and all I can do is start to laugh as it is hilarious and embarrassing and Mom and Dad start to laugh as well, we hadn't even had our first drink yet!
The next day looking for where the gift opening is we continued to let our presence be felt. We went to the neighbors instead of Michelle's and realizing we are at the wrong place Gary (Dad) backs up and runs over a big homemade barbecue, busting out a review light in the rental, and a leaving a great big scratch on the SUV he rented. The BBQ is full of bricks and dented as Gary quickly scrambles out to pick it up and Jay saunters out to help him. We hop in the vehicle to make our get away and someone from the house comes out witnessing everything asking if she can help us???? No its ok we were just looking for the gift opening and we accidently knocked down your BBQ...she gave us a look like you crazy redneck Canadians, and off we went...Lol, sorry my friend we wanted to make sure we were not forgotten! I believe we accomplished our goal.
I stayed for an extra day with Michelle and got to know Grahame better, and we shared some laughs, and a wonderful canoe ride on a beautiful day down a lazy river, it was very special.
Now some sadness, when I got back from London, all my symptoms started which led to the diagnosis of cancer. After Michelle and Grahames honeymoon, Grahame had not been feeling well, and he too was diagnosed with cancer...bladder cancer, and has since had an operation, and I am awaiting word hoping it has not spread. Life throws you some grenades I tell you.
Michelle and Grahame, I send you all of my love prayers and support. You are a beautiful couple, and have much strength to fight this battle, as I fight along with you. I love you, and we will beat this!
A couple of songs my friend to bring a smile and a memory to your heart...
Stop-Spice Girls -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JD6ejmlpa8&ob=av2e
She Drives me Crazy:-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=majFrn3j1Co&feature=fvst
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