FAMILY ALBUM

 

Here are some pictures of our family, not necessarily in chronological order. The first ones are of us having fun. Michael is flying his paraglider. Jason is on board the Clipper Marine. Some of us are sailing Puff in NC. There's a picture of my step-father, Peter Giesey, who died 1/6/2000 of cancer. My mother, Ella Meadows Giesey, is rowing her little skiff, Furnifold (named after her grandfather), out of the harbor and into Sleepy Creek in May 2006--age 78. There's one of Joshua at Chapel Hill on his graduation day, May 2006. I especially like the one of Michael and me just after we met in the summer of 2002.

Then we have the wedding photos. Three months after we met, on October 19, we surprised ourselves and everyone else by getting married. It was a spur-of-the-moment affair, my sister Heidi's idea, and she pulled it off in less than 48 hours. Amazing. Frankly, that's the way to do a wedding--no fuss, no time for jitters.  My father was able to walk me down the aisle--set up in Heidi and Arthur Ravenel's front yard in Charleston. My nieces, Caroline and Sara Ravenel were flower girls, and my beautiful Ariana was maid of honor. Heidi, Joshua, and Michael's son Zach read scriptures, and Heidi and Arthur's friend Herman, a Baptist preacher, officiated using the Episcopal service. (We're nothing if not ecumenical!) We had a string quartet with a trumpet player, gorgeous flowers, an incredible feast, and best of all, my entire family to wish us well. My mother brought Sister Sara down with her from Sleepy Creek. Papa was there with his wife Jean. Michael's two sons flew in, Zach from NY and Jason with his dad from CA. My brother's wife Linda, daughter Philippa, and son Trent, were there. And Heidi and Arthur's son T. Wade, joined his sisters Caroline and Sara in making us feel welcome.

We were gathered that weekend to celebrate our father's 80th birthday. My brother Dick and sister Heidi had collaborated to create a spectacular celebration, with a five-course meal at a restaurant Dick chose, serving Saintsbury (Dick's winery) wines. By allowing our wedding to be part of the the festivities, they made it an occasion Michael and I will never forget. I thank all of my wonderful family for giving us this gift. 

Click on the photo to see a larger --and better focused--version:
    

      

 

The only regret we have about marrying so hastily is that Michael's sisters couldn't join us. We were able to celebrate with them in Los Angeles later in the year--what wonderful women they are. I'm so blessed to have this larger family now of his sisters and their husbands, children and grandchildren. Being with them is like being in the middle of an enveloping mass of laughing, happy people, full of love and hugs.

My girlfriends from MD/DE/PA also missed the fun, but the MD group gave me a beautiful going away party that I will remember always.