This is really long. I wrote in Word, not to lose it. It has been a very special time. I hope all you wonderful people will forgive me. This weekend did me a lot of good.

At cabin, on second pot of green tea –

I may have lost as much as 5 pounds; this is very encouraging and will help me continue to try harder. (my scale is not very readable.)

Ranger: Congrats on stopping the flow of stuff! I wish!! And also on other ah hah's! What a load we put on ourselves when we get into ruts of our own making. It took me ten years to realize that – Hey, I have running water now; I can wash dishes - with out worrying about how many I am using!

Michelle: You continue to be an inspiration. You are doing so much!

Deadlines: It seems that some of us need them. The spirit never moved me on Thurs! I took another detox bath and went to bed! So there I was, early Friday morning, getting the house clean enough for guests due to arrive at noon, then trimming pots until … Happily got an email saying they would be later so I could trim longer. Quit just before they were "due" and left some trimming for later, well wrapped. Was happy to have at least a kiln load drying knowing the weekend was going to be full - with guests and wedding.

It was about 3 when they finally arrived so I had everything as orderly as possible. Friends when we met, Broome has known R since his years at McGill – early '70s, and I have heard about him for years. So we spent an hour or so telling tales. Then went off to give them a chance to see the saw mill where he would have liked to spend 4 hours! He and R are twins! Guests are also avid folk music and dance people. He coveted a couple of my old albums so we will find a place to download them onto computer and send them to him.

The wonderful window was not in place but a plain one was. I am assured by R that it can be changed but B talked him into this and I was considerably less than amused. B told R it would be frosted all winter and we wouldn't be able to see out, and a vandal might break it. The first is nonsense; it faces the rising sun. If the frost melts and runs down, there are ways of coping. The second – put a piece of plexiglass over the exterior – like they do on church windows.   B is so caught up in "the way things spozed to be". Right now it is a long thin, ugly, horizontal window, taking up wall space that could be used more effectively - in a K that R insists will have plenty of cabinets. HAH!   

Guests and I went to the café where the open mike was terrific. R arrived in time for the featured performer. After being physically assaulted for a while by too many decibels, high pitched sounds and the heavy bass, I was delighted to be able to leave in my car and let R come home with the guests. I felt as though I had been run over by a steam roller - beaten to a pulp. Penny also found it difficult, Broome was asleep in their car!

Sat: R dashed off to work and the rest of us talked and talked and finally left for the city in their car about noon. It was very special for me to hear their tales of R and bro, and their complete comprehension of and concordance with my own feelings.

After we arrived in the city house, the guests spent a couple hours deciding what to do with their non-wedding time - 'til 7 pm. Finally went off about 3:30 to walk to one comic book store, no longer having time to visit all four, and then to the wedding. I cleared emails until R arrived about 5 pm, as ordered!

The time they spent decision making was interesting; to me it needed some serious de-cluttering! But that is their way.

Washed and appropriately attired!, R & I actually got to the church a few minutes early "so we have time to talk to people". To our surprise, the only people we knew were so involved we just sat and waited – in the front so I had a chance of understanding. In an hour-long service, I only understood the bride and groom as they said their vows. R tells me it was very good and the priest was excellent. (High Anglican in the Cathedral)

Same at the reception. This time it was D's daughter who spoke comprehensibly. Everyone else did not. Same sound system, so it is clear that I can hear and understand if persons speak clearly – most people do not. R understood. There were lots of interesting words spoken but… Then there was good finger food, music, dancing. As the music got louder, I started feeling as though I were in an oil drum and people were beating on it with baseball bats. I offered to go sit in the car but it was almost 11:30 so we left. Only Broome remembered our plan to go to the all-night bagel factory and did not mention it because I was so exhausted.

It was the first thing I thought of Sunday morning and I felt like weeping – Saturday Night at the Bagel Factory is a wonderful book with good reason. It is an event! But we went as soon as all were conscious. The guests wanted several dozen to take home – "a frozen bagel from the factory is better than anything available in Albany!"

(I also woke up so achey from the trimming session on Friday I could hardly move! Better enough today so I can get back to it!)

Also stopped briefly, on the way, to see a friend, near the factory, to show her the beautiful new pot from last week. I gave it to her and paid heed to her orders about other glazes she wants me to make!! Guests wondered what her children were like! (They are wonderful!) H has been giving me instructions on what to do and how to live since she was about 13 – 40 years now! I really missed her when I lived away.

Wedding brunch at the home of the radiantly happy wedded couple, prepared by kids and close friends, an elegant, laid back, beautiful event in their lovely Victorian town house, restored years ago by the now ex of the new bride!   The marvelous network of friends of 40 plus years made some new connections – "I've heard of you for years!" It would be interesting to chart it.

Wonderful to pick up an adult relationship with the, almost 30, son. "I haven't seen you since you were 9!" "I remember," said he. R is his godfather and has a close ongoing relationship with each of the three "kids". I have been away but, happily, remembered fondly!

Guests announced they would get a ride back to their car with L and gave us the spare key to their car so we could put their bagels in their car. Also the items husband pulled out of the trash he found after we had found a parking place near enough to the brunch! (R collected some useful items also.) They also went off to get cream cheese for the bagels and ate one each before going to brunch. Cannot beat bagels fresh out of the fire! Once upon a time, I would have eaten two or three! R & I left the brunch so R could get back to work – after long good byes.

Back at the city house, I firmly announced, "I am leaving for the cabin at 3 pm, with or without you." R made some calls while I eliminated emails and we had soup and a bagel; we had been too busy socializing to eat much at the brunch! I drove him to meet a friend with a truck and left for the country where I took the essentials – food for the frig – from the car, went inside and turned on the tub, put the food away and got into the bath. When I fell asleep, I dragged myself out and into bed where I stayed until phone rang at 10 pm.

I tried to return the call but no signal, went outside – no signal. Put on a T'dress and shoes and searched for a signal and ended up finding it back where I started. Then off to pick up R and bring him home to fall into bed.

After a quick brekkie, he went off to the mill, today, to start the process of de-cluttering it of a huge machine which will be going to Mexico on three separate transport trucks. They are, hopefully, loading one piece a day for these 3 days, a tricky task needing total attention, crew and two fork lifts.   

I am, of course, carless, hoping to load the kiln with dry pots and make some fresh ones. Need to make larger batches of the tests that are interesting and make a couple more tests – trying to get the turquoise and grey that H wants.

Another gorgeous day and the leaves are almost full size, shading the cabin nicely. Rain predicted for Weds but that is OK. The wedding weekend was marvelous for our dear ones. And rain is necessary.

Off I go!