Part 6: Wedding Pics

Part 5: August 5, 2011, The Wedding

I set out on a narrow way many year ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms

This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

(Rascal Flatts)

It was late, about 9pm or so and the photographer was concerned because the light was gone and the pictures would be iffy. The bride had just arrived to get dressed to the relief of my son who twice requested me to text my daughter to find out what the hold up was. When I expressed my concern to Sydni, she looked at me and said that the pictures that needed to turn out would and that this was all about memories. She was serene and she was correct. I still was in panic mode as was my sister. Then Pam Hart started singing "The Broken Road" and Syd and her dad made their way thru the aisle of lumanaria walking towards her future with my son. She was simply radiant and my son's eyes were locked on her in such a way that my heart filled with joy.

After Kurt handed her to Josh they walked to Chelsea's stone and both gently touched the top, bringing the past to the present. I found tears rolling down my face and I am sure that I was not alone. The ceremony was lovely and it was uniquely their own. They read vows to each other. Pastor Ken, who earlier in the day had baptised them both in the Westfork, united them as man and wife.

I thought about my mom wishing that she could have lived long enough to see her youngest grandson get married. My thoughts turned to the others: Kenny, Tina, Chelsea, who along with my mother, his grandma "Lucky", would be well pleased.

Part 4: The Hart Reunion and Pre-wedding Festivities

My son is a Hart. I remember a few years ago after he started attending the yearly reunion when he came home and told me that he no longer felt "different" he said that he found a whole slew of people who were like him. For him it was an 'a-ha' moment, one that brought him a sense of who he was and where he came from. He loves Hartland Woods and the yearly reunion is a pilgrimage that he will not miss short of being in the hospital with both legs in casts. He proposed to Sydni there last year and they both wanted this site to be the venue for their wedding . I am so very blessed that his Hart family represents a group of people who recognize the importance of family and that they have opened their arms AND campfire not only to my son but to his extended family. Coming from all over the United States, they get together the first weekend in August to visit, eat, drink, sing, camp in tents, float down the Westfork River in canoes, and skeet shoot. When my two sisters and I arrived bumping down the entrance to the camp, our brakes gave out. Coming towards us was a pickup truck when it stopped I had a deja vue moment. I said to this man I know who your daddy is!!! He told me to get out of my car and he wrapped me in his arms and gave me a hug. Jeff Hart, you so eased my way and gave me a welcome that I will long remember. And you look just like your daddy Denny!!!!

The float is a tradition and I was invited by my son who had already asked his stepfather to be his partner. I don't know who he thought he would partner me with because I don't canoe. It would make me sweat and I just purely hate to sweat. If they had a barge with rowers I might have reconsidered. They said that the float would start at 1030am and they were almost on time. It started at 100pm. Becky and I watched as they put the canoes in the Westfork and it was organized chaos. Brian Hart stood in the water for assistance, dogs were cavorting in the water jumping in and out of boats. My thought as I was shooting pictures was how happy everyone was!!
The day after the float(and the wedding) they had a skeet shooting contest. This is also tradition that they take seriously. I wasn't there long to watch but these Harts can shoot!!
Family can be a group of people who share the same DNA. A family can be a community to form unions to raise the young. It has a purpose, a past and a future. A family can be extended beyond the DNA bond to include those who support the goals of the community. A family is bonded by shared joys and sorrows. History is shared as stories are told. The once young now old are the elders passing to the next generation a sense of belonging. This family Hart opened their arms to us for the weekend with the only commonality my precious oldest child Joshua. This family took us in, shared their campfire and shared the joyous occasion of a wedding. Looking at the faces I saw the past, looking at the children I saw the future.

Trip to Iowa Part 3: Allison,Iowa, The Emerald Door Inn, and the Wonderful Ladies from the AMVET Hall

Welcome to Allison, Iowa a little bit of heaven on earth! A normal person, when faced with the prospect of finding multiple rooms for family members, would broaden the search to larger towns than one boasting only one small motel. I, being mostly normal, did just that especially when my son informed me that the Inn in Allison left a lot to be desired. I started in Waverly and branched out towards Waterloo but something kept drawing me back closer to the Hart reunion site. I finally called the only place in town, the Emerald Door Inn(formally the Crest Motel that my son was familiar with). I was assured by the owner, Randy Moad, that they had redecorated and that the place was clean. This is always a plus. I was charmed by this down to earth Innkeeper who had taken over the old Crest Inn and booked several rooms. Added plus was the price was excellent and it was really close to wedding central. I have stayed in Westins, Hiltons, Sheratons, down to LaQuintas and Red Roofs and I swear none has had the atmosphere and calmness that the Emerald has. Plus you can sit outside your room and look at cornfields and watch an occasional car go by while you are in your PJ's. With your hair in rollers. Without makeup. Just picture me sitting outside one of the W's in New York in my jammies with my big ole' rollers in my hair, smoking a cigarette and reading my kindle.... they would cart my crazy country butt to Bellview and lock me up. When we arrived the office was open, there was a note with our room keys on top and a card to fill out with our check in information. There was also a sign letting us know that we could call if we had a problem. Again I was charmed. Our rooms were as stated, very clean. The beds were great and we had a full kitchen. There is a caretaker who comes to change towels and sheets if needed. He also takes the time to sit down and discuss politics. I did see a spider but it was minuscule compared to what crawls around here in Louisiana.I took this picture of Randy just as we were leaving. See the smile. Probably because we were leaving and his life could return to normal. We changed rooms, moved people in and out, changed reservations at will and he never lost his cool. We booked the whole place and needed to shuffle people around a bit till we were satisfied. I just took the cue from him and left him notes: Pam is not coming but the preacher and his wife want her room.... Patti is staying with Barbara tonight but will be in her own room tomorrow...Ruth has a reservation but she will be rooming with Barb because JR and Deanna need her room.... oh and bill us for that room.... you get my drift. He was gracious and accommodating to all of our craziness.Stan woke up Thursday morning before me and went out sightseeing. He was hungry and followed a tip that the AMVETs were serving breakfast. He went in and talked to a few people, ate his breakfast THEN came back to the Inn and woke me up at the ungodly hour of 7am offering to buy me breakfast. He took me to the hall and I ordered and ate one of the BEST breakfasts I have had in a long time. I was so pleased that I went back and woke my sisters up and we carted them back to get their breakfast. Apparently the local cafe closed down and the breakfast slack was taken up by the AMVET ladies!! They served breakfast 6 days a week. We went back Friday and Saturday, each time bringing more people with us. The AMVET Ladies knew Kenny Hart and one of them told me that Vernon's wife was her teacher in school(I hope I have that right!!)
Meet the lovely ladies of the AMVET hall: Ms Gail, Ms. Alice, and Ms. Annabelle. If anyone gets an opportunity to be up in the Allison area for breakfast tell them we said HI and that Shoneys, Cracker Barrel, and Bob Evans restaurants can't even compare to the wonderful breakfasts that we were served by them!! Oh and leave a tip. A. Big. Tip. They deserve it.

Stan deserted us and sat with the local men. He really had a good time.

After eating each day we drove around town. To the Allisonites... you have a beautiful town. It's peaceful and it smells good. People smile and ask about you. We ate at Lil' Ricky's on Saturday night( which was fun plus had great food) and two people came up and said "aren't you the people stayin' at the Emerald?" At least they didn't say are you the crazy lady with the big hair rollers sitting outside your room at the Emerald smoking and reading... in your PJ's? They were honestly curious about how we liked the place. Randy we gave you an A+ and they seemed pleased letting us know that you had "changed it all around".

I will miss Allison, Iowa and can't imagine I will ever find myself your way again unless my son and new daughter-in-law, Joshua and Sydni Hart have a child and have him(or her) baptized in the Westfork. I just may push for that.