Blog recess is over and it’s time to catch up. In short, we traveled to Oklahoma on Christmas Eve and arrived home Sunday evening – or rather Monday morning; today. The trip was twofold: Christmas with family and my nephew’s wedding. Here’s how it worked: My sister and family – said nephew’s mother – went to Oklahoma City from Montana to spend Christmas with my future new niece’s family where this wedding took place on the 28th. We joined them. Here’s the trip log.
Christmas Eve – drive to OK in 9 hours and 52 minutes exactly how Mapquest said to do. We talked to Saipan on the road in the middle of Oklahoma. How cool is that? I can tell we are anticipated because we are getting status calls throughout the day. It’s exciting. My nephew is making handmade truffles. I understand later what this 12 hour job of chocolate and frustration is for. We arrive and eat really yummy dinner with lots of new people. Crash to catch up on the 3 hours sleep from the night before.
Christmas Day – share gifts for over 5 hours – one.at.a.time. with an intermission for an airport run. It must be a record. The sun was going down. Eat a yummy meal very late including a sample of the wedding champagne. It’s cold and weather.com lied.
Dec 26 – Weather.com lied again. It’s cold, it’s snowing and we cancel a drive to Tulsa to visit my oldest friend on the planet. Instead, we are back in the mix for big wedding happenings and errands. My nephew and his future wife have planned many, many details in their wedding to make it a truly special event. The best man arrives and being Chinese, they proceed to make a grand dinner with 12-15 different dishes – I lost count, but they were all different from a similar dinner I experienced with them a few years ago. He could open a restaurant that deserves white table cloths – oh wait, his parents already did.
Dec 27 – Rehearsal day! It’s cold. I can tell the bride is a bit stressed. There is a buzz in the air. The groom and bride are running around like mad people in different directions – yet still smiling. They have the rest of us running around like mad people filling in the spots they can’t cover. They rehearse, I watch. The rehearsal luncheon is at a fabulous Italian restaurant. There is an open house at the bride’s parent’s home with sleigh rides to view the neighborhood lights. It’s cold, misting and snowing. Weather.com didn’t even bother to come close. We proceed with the open house, but the sleigh ride is cancelled by the company claiming we’ll all get sick if we go through with it. The bride’s mom is highly disappointed. I spotted a heartfelt pout.
Dec 28: Wedding Day! – We are caught up in helping with the final details of the wedding and drive all over with our little map running errands. One good thing, being part of family, but not part of the wedding party – we get to miss out on the actual stress part of the deal. We only get caught off guard a few times in needing to help out in timing, other than our own, for mismatch of errands, cars, and people. Beautiful wedding, really fine reception and the day is done – no hitches ‘cept for my nephew and his new bride.
Dec 29 – Post wedding brunch for all the hangers on left in the city with all the leftovers, but not including Chinese - dang. This took place at the local boat club, but it was – surprise – cold, so there wasn’t much hanging around outside to view the lake and boats. We took in National Treasure after ($3.50 for a Matinee!) and headed up to Tulsa to visit my friend.
Dec 30 – after attempting to catch up on 16 years in an overnight visit we head to Denver 2 hours later than we planned. This was not in Mapquest’s timing, rather inhibited by whiteout conditions and icy roads in Western Kansas under my steerage and I was completely wiped out 2 hours before we actually got home just after midnight. You know it’s bad when someone passes you and fishtails in front of you, and when the truckers actually slow down and use their flashers - and when you miss a familiar exit near your own home from brain fry. Home again, home again, jiggedy jig.
Sounds like it was a full trip! We won't be back until 1/4, but I'm looking forward to hanging out this weekend and catching up on your travels and mine.
Posted by: Stephanie | Jan 02, 2008 at 10:29 PM
It sounds like you had a wonderful trip with family and friends. I am so glad that you made it home safely.
Posted by: Tulip Girl | Jan 04, 2008 at 07:05 PM