A Trip Back in Time

We Dreamers hopped on a time travel machine.
We took a trip back in time on a visit to New York.

If I made a timeline, our time-travel adventures might look something like this:

1972

Back to the scene of the crime wedding.
The groom waits for the ceremony to begin.

Now.... still waiting (Will you hurry up and take the picture?)

The wedding takes place.

I am sure I could hear the echoes of our vows as we peeked 

into the church. It hasn't changed much!

After the ceremony...

 The chairs have changed, the carpet has been ripped out.

No one was around to take our picture, 

So, we muddled through on our own. 

1971

I attended Bennett College in Millbrook, NY. The main building, Halcyon Hall, was formerly a luxury hotel constructed in 1893. The story I heard was that the proprietors would extend invitations to wealthy families in New York City to come enjoy a restful week in the country. Evidently the invitation hinted that the stay was free, but in fact, families received a hefty bill upon leaving!

The building was purchased in 1907, and may have looked something like this.

In my day, it looked like this. (I didn't have any pictures of the building,

but found this on the Internet, and must give credit to CardCow.com.)

The school ran into problems in the mid 70's as enrollment declined. 

The original trust did not allow the school to admit men,

nor could they turn the school into a four-year college.

The property was ensnared in the trust decrees and was left empty

when the school closed in 1978. 

What a shame.

It was difficult to go visit, but I felt compelled to see it again.

My dorm, first year.
My room was on the top floor, 4th window from the left. 

1969

High school graduation.

Here I am with a few of my classmates (just a few years later!)
In the picture above, I am on the far right in the front row.
The handsome fellow in the picture below is top row, third from right.
My friend is on the bottom row, on the left.

1967

We had the opportunity to visit with my beau from 10th grade!
We remarked that we had no pictures of us together from back in the day.

1966

We attended a reunion for Mr. Dreamy and his classmates.

They were the first class to spend all four years at this "new" high school.

Some of the attendees took a tour of the school.

Much of it remains the same and "students" pointed out their lockers,

where they sat in in the music room, and where they used to

go outside to smoke during lunch.

~1810

Mr. Dreamy has been exploring his genealogy for years. 

Some of his ancestors attended this one-room school...

... and met in this Quaker Meeting house in Greenfield, NY.

1720

Hugo Freer, an ancestor of Mr. Dreamy's, built this house in New Paltz, NY.

It still stands, much as it did back in his time.

We had a great time visiting, and talking, and remembering, and talking....

I'm ready for some quiet time now.

I'm all talked out! It's good to be back in 2016, in the here and now!

Glorious Day

Today my baby boy is getting married.

But wait, you say, didn't he get married last year?

Perhaps they are stuck in a time warp....

or maybe it is just that they had so much fun last year....

or maybe it is simply because they wish to celebrate with more people...

whatever the reason...

Chris & Zoe are celebrating their marriage

again!

Tonight we will attend the celebration. The reBride and reGroom will have a ring ceremony, and dances, and toasts in their honor. 

What fun!

Wedding Jitters

Chris and Zoe chose to forego a large wedding, and to get married at City Hall in San Francisco instead. We planned to visit them on our trip, and Zoe's mother could also come for a visit, so they decided to get married in October. I was delighted.
We met them at City Hall on Monday morning. They had a 10:30 appointment to get their marriage license and an 11:30 appointment for the ceremony with the Judge. Zoe and Chris ran into a snag when they met with the County Clerk to get their license. The documents they had on hand could not be used to authenticate Zoe's name, for various reasons too complicated to go into. The only document that was acceptable was Zoe's Social Security card, which they did not have with them. I snapped this picture as they left the office, obviously on a mission. I cracked up when I saw the expressions I had captured on their faces.... I couldn't resist adding some thoughts that may have been going through their minds:

What do you believe they were thinking?

The card was found quite promptly. The certificate was issued, and the wedding ceremony went on without a hitch.... almost on schedule! 

Dreaming Gets Her Girl

Twenty-seven years ago God brought me a little boy.

Despite the fact that everyone....

I mean everyone,

said he was going to be a she;

I was carrying the baby really high,

The heartbeat was really fast,

The wedding ring moved in circles.

One of the Doctors even bet me a 6-pack of beer

that it was a girl.

Hmmm... I never collected on that,

I wonder if it is too late?

Imagine my surprise when the Doctor delivered my baby

and said, "You have a perfect little...

boy!"

"A boy?" I said, in disbelief.

But, I loved my boy.

I loved my boy so much, I even had another!

God knew what he was doing when he gave me boys!

I don't do hair ribbons and nail polish and lace very well!

But, now I have my girl...

and I don't have to teach her the girly things!

She came, knowing all of that!

I'd like to introduce you to the bride and groom,

my daughter-in-law and my son,
at the beautiful San Francisco City Hall,

Zoe & Chris,
on the beach in San Francisco.

Wishing you both an 'always' kind of love!

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch: I've Got a Secret!

How would you answer these questions? You can respond in comments, or you can participate in Patrice's "Chats on the Farmhouse Porch". It's a fun way to get to know friends in cyberspace. Oh, and speaking of fun - Wendell has chimed in with his answers. It is interesting to see things from a horse's perspective.

Wendell... can you get to San Francisco on Oct. 29? My son is getting married! You are the first 'person' in blogland that I've told that to! Shhhh! It's a secret! Don't tell! I think it would be great fun to have you in his wedding party!!

1. Please tell me a fond autumn memory. Or tell me something interesting you're doing now that fall is here.
I used to ride to the hounds. Fox hunting takes place in the fall when the mornings are cool and dew covers everything (we even had lots of dew on the grass out here this morning). Morning mist would hang in the woods and the sun would filter through what leaves remained on the trees as we waited for the hounds to pick up the scent of a fox. There was something magical about the anticipation of a good run, the rustle of the leaves as horses waited impatiently stirring up the earthy odor. Too-to-too-to-toot! Tally-ho! We're off!

Here's a not-so-great picture of the 

Genessee Valley Hunt - many years ago.

I'm in that mass of horses and people.... somewhere!

2. What's your favorite kind of cheese?
I'm with Patrice.... just about any cheese is my favorite. But I guess, if you put a selection out for me, I'd take baked Brie over anything else! Yummy!

3. Have you ever been in a wedding, other than your own (if applicable)?
I have never been in anyone's wedding... but, as I mentioned above. Son 1 is getting married! Woohoo! I guess I won't really be 'in' his wedding - but I think it will be tons better than dressing in a Bride's maid's dress. My heart will be so full! (My eyes, probably, too!)

4. Did you ever do anything as a child to earn money? (Lemon aid stand, crafts, mother's helper, chores, etc.)
We lived near a golf course tee and would sell lemonade on occasion. My brother would also scour the golf course for lost balls and would sell them as well. Several times golfers would find balls they had lost on previous outings. They would laugh and gladly pay my brother the small bit of change he was asking for the golf balls.

5. Do you wear a watch?
I haven't worn a watch for years. I probably quit using one about the turn of the century (doesn't that sound odd?!) when I realized that just about anywhere I was, I could see a clock: on the microwave, in my car, on my computer, on my cell phone, etc. But, I do have a lovely watch that my brother sent to me. It belonged to my mother. We think it was given to her by my dad on the occasion of their wedding. My brother had the works redone and the watched cleaned professionally. I treasure it - even though I have never worn it.

Visit Everyday Rurality to join the chat.

Thirty-nine

Thirty-nine years ago we said our vows

WOW!

It's been a lovely dance!