Reply #3: In 1994, my best friend asked me to marry her....

[Rowdyboy]

She was a college journalism professor (We've known each other since 1972-she was my freshman roommates girlfriend). She'd been dating the guy for 10 years and whenever they fought, she came to me for support and advice. I gave her a lot of tough love offer the years and kept her on track, so she decided I was the person to perform the service.

Not being a minister, I refused. Three days later she returned with my internet "ordination". So, on April 19, 1998 we had a wedding here at the house with 30 guests. Michael and I did the catering and the cake as our gift. The guests arrived at 10:30am and I had 4 glasses of champagne before 11. The bride and groom (a beautiful mixed race couple) wore identical jeans and white shirts and entered the garden to Pachbells Canon in D minor.

I had roses and lilies blooming, with a small plot of knee-high corn in the background. The service was a compilation of various other ceremonies including a quote from Khalil Gibran and the Navajo Marriage Prayer.

To make a VERY long story short, I was semi-toasted and nervous and the entire ceremony lasted about 7 minutes. Afterward, everyone danced to "big band" music from the 1940's and had a blast. It was one of the greatest days in this old house's history.

Thats what you get for asking questions-more information than you ever wanted!