The Big Event!

There was the small ceremony in Boston on Wednesday. Then on Saturday they had a picnic for everyone who had come in from out of town for the reception. 

Then on Sunday, September 26 we woke up and got ready for the biggest event of the week! The girls all went to the salon and then met at Cairnwood at 2:00.

Cairnwood Estate ~

 The Sweetheart Table

When Diana told me they were going to have a photo booth I'll be honest, I was a little concerned. I imagined the kind you see at a shopping mall and I knew that wouldn't go with the vibe she was trying to create. But this thing was the hit of the party! It was big enough to hold a few people. And every single person in the photo got a strip and a 4x3, plus the guy put one strip and 4x3 onto a page that we got to write messages on, then he'll put those into a book for the bride and groom! It was a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

Me, Chuck, Beth and my sister Debbie.

 

Getting ready ~

While Diana and Peter were out taking pictures the rest of us got to enjoy Cocktail Hour. The servers came around with trays of the best hors d'oeurves! Everything I tried was so good. Everyone who tried anything said it was delicious!

I snuck outside to watch for a few minutes.

Then it was time for dinner and the introduction of the bride and groom!

Chuck and Sharaya, and Peter's dad and sister all made toasts, and after dinner we all went inside for the first dances. I'm standing to their left with my hands folded in front of me. Trying to hold back the tears. 

I wasn't the only one ~

 

Then the DJ cranked up the music and the party began! Dancing, drinking, laughter, it was so much fun!

 

Right after dinner my phone died so I don't have many pictures of the actual party. After it had been going for a while, Beth told Chuck she had wanted to sing. Diana had made a couple of comments during all the wedding planning about Beth maybe singing a song but honestly none of us thought she would actually go through with it so we never pursued it. Well, she did! And she sang loud enough to be heard over the track the DJ played! People were lined up against the walls and packed into the adjoining library to listen to her. She bravely stood there and sang Butterfly Kisses in front of everyone!

 

It was a wonderful night. A great way to end a weekend celebration of Diana and Peter becoming Mr. and Mrs.

Sharaya took these in Boston ~

 

9/11 Museum

Once we found parking we headed straight to the 9/11 museum and had to show proof of vaccination before going inside. It's hard to describe how I was feeling when we entered: a little excited to finally be there, solemn because of where we were and nervous about the kind of things we were about to see.

Sometimes Sharaya and Ally would catch up to where I was or I'd catch up to them and I'd always hear her teaching, explaining. She's such a good mom.

Many of the things were hard to believe, were we really seeing what we were seeing?

As we walked around we kept seeing this area that was blocked off, it was like a path...

I was shocked when I realized it was the original foundation of one of the twin towers! When you look at these aerial views, the center building is where you enter the museum, but then you go down a flight of stairs, (right next to The Survivors Stairs) and you're actually under the fountains. The main part of the museum is under ground, but you never know it when you're there.

 (Thank you again Google.)

 

We spent about an hour and a half and still didn't see everything. The picture of the original foundation? You can see like a little bridge or ramp, crossing the foundation? That takes you to a door where the main part of the museum is. You aren't allowed to take pictures in there but there is so much more. There's a window pane, still in the framing that didn't break! The window is still intact!

There are eye glasses, shoes, letterhead, briefcases - because people were at work... sometimes I just stood there crying. Sometimes I'd forget to breathe. It was... indescribable. 

After a while we made our way outside to the memorials ~

Then it was back into the car and we began the drive back to Philadelphia. Even now, I'm not even sure how to end this post. I'm still processing some of the things I saw, trying to imagine what people were thinking and feeling as they saw those towers go down...