So, I’m sitting here trying to think of a good way to begin my post about a wedding but I have suddenly become protector of a sweet little gray kitten who, I hope, is only starving, not sick and who has extra toes. For a couple of days we have been putting out food for a pair of kittens Bob saw near the barn and the food has been eaten. Perhaps it is the other one who has indulged while this one has been starving. That at least is my current theory and based on that I have brought her in, made a bed, given her milk and the juice from a can of catfood and a small litter box. She drank a bit of milk…she is not that young, perhaps 10 or 12 weeks…and is now purring slightly, nestled on my lap. She certainly does not appear to be feral. That was established when our animal-loving mail lady drove up to the house to say that a kitten was huddled by the road, that she had stopped and petted her and was alarmed by her gaunt little body and weakness. What is her story I wonder, our little Shadow ?
But the wedding… I first met Monica two years ago and was instantly taken with her, very classy, very warm and completely down to earth. She was on her way to Singapore and we only had an hour at a San Diego coffee house and a quick stop at her apartment to pick up her luggage before she left. Later I asked my son Geoffrey “Is this for real?” And he said “I hope so!” She seemed already to be a great friend with my grandkids and they with her; a good sign.
Then last summer Geoffrey, Monica, Isabelle and Christian spent a week at Keldaby and despite the insane temperatures and stupefying humidity, everyone seemed to have a good time.
This was followed by a trip to Merida, Yucatan, where Geoffrey met her Mom Alicia and step Dad Peter; all went well. Engagement followed and then a move into a house just steps from the beach in Carlsbad and soon I was flying off to California for the wedding. Bob didn’t come which is too bad as he would have had a tremendous time, but there are far too many home responsibilities and besides he claims to hate traveling anyway A small wedding was planned but a long celebration where the two families could spend time getting to know one another. Geoff, Monica, Izzy and Christian, my ex Kring and I left Carlsbad way before dawn and headed north to Santa Barbara where they had rented a vacation home in Montecito for four nights. We couldn’t get in until mid afternoon so spent the morning in town, eating breakfast and most importantly picking up the marriage license at the City Hall. which is elaborately Spanish in style with painted ceilings, tiled floors, a century-old clock. and bell tower from which all of Santa Barbara can be seen
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Each of its four vistas was occupied by an artist or two painting the views of town and country, distant hills and courtyard gardens. Christian and Kring went off to check out the old mission, Geoffrey went to see that the flowers had been delivered to the house we would be staying at, Izzy and I went in and out of shops and Monica went to the hairdresser she had found online and had a trial styling.
At 3:30 we drove into our perfect Sea Ranch, settled into our various suites, exclaimed over the attention to all the amenities of a vacation home; to name but a few: I think we counted 14 TVs, at least 5 fire pits, at least 5 and a half baths, a pool with every piece of equipment one could want…one corner sectioned off as a hot tub with jets, a bocce court, a ground level trampoline, badminton, and croquet gear, bicycles, a fully equipped kitchen with four, count ’em, dishwashers, a laundry room. The list goes on and on. I have never spent so much time in so much luxury!
Later in the afternoon Alicia and Peter arrived from their flight up from Merida. But this is enough for a first post!! The wedding will follow