flea

It was good. The reason for the trip was my 24 year old half-brother's wedding, which was Saturday. We drove up in the Honda from Boston, ate lunch at a little restaurant I'd scoped out on the internet in New London, and changed in their bathroom. Then off the the wedding, which was churchy but not too much so (evangelical, so nothing Popish like communion - instead, there was singing and talking about Jesus). The bride's family sang the benediction at the end together from the congregation, a cappella and in at least four-part harmony, and it was pretty awesome. This is apparently a traditional thing for them. My father and brother both made that "I am being looked at and am goofy and also proud" face. Dillo was adorably awesome in an outfit my mother got him - grey button-down shirt, black pinstripe vest, black pants, purple tie. Casper wanted to be told she was beautiful and was a little disappointed that Dillo got more attention. The reception was at a lodge at a lake about half an hour away, lovely except for the incredible number of mosquitoes. Very low-key, not a full meal, just fondue and a chocolate fountain and cheesecake as the cake. Some dancing. We learned that white evangelical Christians from Ohio mostly do not know how to do the electric slide. Casper totally busted a move, however, and also got a splinter in her foot on the deck, which my father removed.

It was nice to see my stepmother's family - her mother (age 79 and not in great shape - contrast my vigorous and active 77 year old stepfather), sisters Debbie and Brenda and their spouses, and my stepsister Joanne and her partner (Joanne cried and cried during the ceremony!) Talked some to stepmother and a little to father and sister and (busy bridesmaid) Kat. Then we had dinner in Concord with my other brother Nate and his friend/soon-to-be-flatmate, Elena, Dillo asleep on my chest for the whole meal. Nate, in classic Nate form, nearly failed in his one appointed wedding task. Kat called him Thursday and told him to bring 16 bottles of lambic beer to the wedding, for the groom and bride and the wedding night, apparently (dry wedding, though the couple are legally of age.) The significance of the number 16 is unclear, and why lambic? There was much general wonderment and mildly ribald speculation about the wedding night by Nate and Elena. He didn't procure this in Boston and was surprised to learn NH liquor stores don't sell beer, so sloped off to Concord between the wedding and reception to raid a grocery. Then locked his keys in the rental car at the reception. Classic. But, he paid for dinner and I quite liked Elena, so he came out okay on balance.

Friday we went to Crane's Beach in Ipswich and drove around very briefly looking at old houses and ate lunch. (Sibling set at the beach: Aidan, Seamus, Declan, Cormac.) Sunday we did the cemetery visits, both Woburn and Mount Auburn, and then mr. flea and I went to dinner and Star Trek for our anniversary. Monday to the Public Garden on the way to the airport, and here we are at home.

Last week Casper emerged from my closet dressed in my cream-colored polyester half-slip with my black Patagonia long underpants wrapped around it at the chest and announced that she was wearing this outfit to the wedding (my brother's, in New Hampshire, in late May).

After disabusing her of this notion I did own that we could look for a "silky dress" for her to wear to the wedding. So I'm looking, and not finding what I want. There are silk dresses (J. Crew's kids line) but these tend to be highly structured and rather more formal than what I think she wants. She wants the silky feel, not necessarily actual silk. I've looked at Gap Kids, Olive Juice, Mini Boden, Gymboree, and Etsy, and am well familiar with the options at Hanna Andersson, Lands End, and LL Bean, but nothing seems to suit. What I want is either something simply styled in washed silk (like those Waldorf School silk playscarves), or something simply styled in a silky jersey knit. I'd prefer actual silk or a silk-cotton knit blend, but am willing to settle for woven polyester or a cotton-poly jersey. But I can't find anything right. Ideas? Am I going to have to resort to asking my mother to sew something?

Also, a late May NH wedding is a bit of a dilemma, style-wise. It is in the afternoon and the principals will be in full rig - and all their 10,000 attendants. I can't remember what the weather is like in normal parts of the country in late May - for Casper will it be white tights and black patent shoes, or sandals? For me, oh dear, my dress shoes consist of purple suede Danskos (in May? It's before Memorial Day...), black Mary Janes that are 15 years old, or my wedding shoes. And I have nothing to wear on my body. I suppose I need to go dress shopping, too. I would actually like to own a dress, but do not have high hopes for finding anything off the rack due to longwaistedness. I'll probably settle for separates.