I'm back, temporarily!
For my friends who actually might want to hear about it, let me tell yas, the wedding I attended in Cape Breton was THE most wonderful wedding I've ever been to, and probably ever will. A couple so truly in love, the perfect setting in Baddeck, perfect weather for the whole four days which is a little miracle in itself - by the Monday morning brunch the rainy weather had rolled in as usual, but nobody minded.
Such a great group of people, most of them from Philly - go figure ;) A big theme of the weekend ended up being community and friendship - Baddeck is such a tiny little town, and every day packs of us would hit Main Street and meet up with other packs of new friends at the cafes and bars. Everyone had a smile on their face and hugs were plentiful by the end of the weekend.
This was a celebration of love, not just the love of the couple getting married but the love they obviously inspire in, and draw inspiration from, their friends and family. The fact that so many young people traveled so far to be a part of this celebration says so much - from California, Kansas City, Philly, etc. And that we all came together like we had known each other for years.
My friend Gabriel always wanted to get married in Cape Breton - he has been asking friends to come visit for years, and aside from us locals nobody had ever found the time or money to make the long trip. So the wedding was the perfect excuse to get them all there. Gabe's parents first visited Cape Breton on their honeymoon over 30 years ago, decided then to buy property and have been coming up every summer since. Many of Gabe's friends swore they would be back again, after experiencing the romance that is Cape Breton.
Am I gushing too much? I don't care! I haven't even gotten to the really really romantic part yet!
Thursday afternoon - arrived and went straight to the bride and groom's cottage overlooking Baddeck Bay. Proceeded to drink beers and enjoy the other local produce(?). Over the course of the day and night the friends trickled in and found their way to the cottage. Many more beers and bbq. Swimming in the warm ocean under the stars (ok, that was just me).
Friday - Sea-kayaking and relaxing. That night all the young people hit one bar, then the next which was a typical celtic pub. Two guys with acoustic guitars, and a fiddle player. Then another fiddle player who just happened to have her fiddle with her in case the party really got going (as is often the case in CB). Somehow lots of people had never heard this type of music, and were lovin' it. I showed off some Highland-type dancing and got a thumbs up from the white-haired locals enjoying the music. Sweet.
Saturday - hangovers. All the guys played basketball in sweltering heat for a couple of hours (Gabe's request). That night, a crab dinner in a tent beside the ocean. Bonfire on the beach after. Many more beers, and tequila shots.
Sunday - the actual wedding, on the 18th tee of a very beautiful golf course, perched on a hill overlooking Baddeck Bay. Party was held there, with a live band. This was a Jewish wedding, so we also got to enjoy the Hora. Meteor showers like nothing all the city folk had ever seen. To look out from the tent where tons of people were dancing and see scores of people sitting around on the grass, talking and laughing and looking up at the stars...christ, how beautiful and touching. But wait, that's not it.
Approaching 2am, a bunch of us make our way back to that same beach for another bonfire, and coolers full of more beer we had stocked up on that day. The bride and groom arrive and the party gets going again. I run back to my room to grab a bottle of tequila.
When I get back there is a motorboat pulled up just offshore. There are four guys in it just sitting there quietly. I ask my new friend PJ (who writes for the Nashville Scene, I think it is? and invited us to Nashville anytime, yehaw!)what's going on and he says they pulled up and 2 guys with guitars played Purple Rain. I laugh my ass off and can't believe I missed this. They offered them beer but they said they had some. They had seen the fire from the water and decided to check out the party. A couple of people had tried inviting them ashore but obviously didn't go about it the right way. I wade out to the boat and explain to them that our friends just got married, and could they play a Springsteen song, one of Gabe's favorites. They don't know any Springsteen, they say, but the 2 brothers come up and sit on the front of the boat after some quiet discussion and dedicate this song to the happy couple, and do a beautiful job of it.
It was the perfect cap to a perfect wedding. That's Cape Breton.
My Trusted MOGs
What a lovely weekend. See, true love still exists! Yay!
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Welcome back!
Ah, fuck, you're leaving again?
Oh well, I guess the bright side is that when you come back again I will be treated to more enthralling and inspirational stories of your adventures!
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Oh Dale, it was truly inspiring. I tend to be cynical about marriage (not love, mind you), but this one really touched my heart. And my liver.
Hi Matt! I've missed you too! Yep, I'm off to Quebec City in a couple of days. Very pretty city, also very romantic. I took a week-long sojourn by the ocean after the wedding to recoup. Up till about 4am every night keeping the party going - that's my usual role. I pay for it after though, that's for sure.
And if you've written anything brilliant in the past coupla weeks, I've missed it. Did I miss anything?
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You've missed nothing, I'm afraid. Everyone, including myself, seems to be devoting most of their time to enjoying the late summer sunshine, which is as it should be.
My dad once came back from Quebec City raving about how great it was, which was high praise coming from a man who isn't exactly prone to raving. It sucks that you're probably going to be stuck out all night partying the whole time you're there though! So it goes though, with life and the terrible burdens we must bear. ;)
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The marriage has to last, after a wedding like that. How blessed you were to be part of it - and, I'm sure, one of the major reasons it went as perfectly as it did.
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Ha Bill! You are too sweet sometimes, ya know. Although I did take credit for the weather - they kept worrying about, and I reassured them that I had spoken with the weather gods on their behalf, that everything was going to be perfect. ;)
Indeed, my partner's signature is on the Ketubbah, and Gabe had him read an Octavio Paz poem during the ceremony, so yeah, we (me through Dave) were part of it. I felt it was a nod to our relationship. We go to Cape Breton with him every summer, except last summer, naturally, as he was proposing!
Matt, pray for me. The French inspire me to excess!
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Another reason why Canada should be my home. I've attended several weddings and hated all of them. This sounds like a weekend suited for a guy like me. You were lucky to be part of that.
What a perfect post, Kris.
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Ha - I hadn't been to ANY weddings that inspired me like this one did - in fact, that was the sentiment I heard from just about everyone I spoke to. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know that your own wedding inspired such great sentiments amongst everyone in attendance? Hell, I almost ran down to the courthouse myself right after. Um, with Dave in tow, of course. Every young couple there was starry-eyed the whole time.
And hey - Canada was just the setting. Most people there were American, including the happy couple. But sure, settings can go a long ways! I don't think he would have been able to marry someone who wouldn't agree to get married in Cape Breton.
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"And hey – Canada was just the setting. Most people there were American, including the happy couple"...................well Canada does things to people.
American moggers: I WAS ONLY JOKING.
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Don't worry Henry - the only people commenting on this post already know that, I believe ;)
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Think you can set up a Canadian living-room tour?
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How about a multi-room tour of my house, at least? I have a very spacious bathroom.
Ok, well, at least the Maritimes, and yes probably Quebec and Ontario would be easy too. And then you always have Amy out there on the west coast, she has contacts for the prairies.
Henry, the man with women covering every coast, eh? Ha! There's a lyric for ya. It's funny 'cause it's true!
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Henry LIES, he LIES - He LIES when he CRIES - When he SIGHS... dag how does that song go again... Henry will _say anything_ to the U.S. Americans because he doesn't want us to send him to THE Iraq or The Asian.
All seriousness - sounds like magic Kris - can't wait to hear about it in person - over much alcohol & possibly over the din of loud music... please say we can all sing along off key if necessary ;)
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Now that is an incredible weekend. I had a pretty swell one myself :) And what wonderful memories for the happy newly-weds. Glad you had such a great time, K!
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Henry lies? Perhaps.............but I promise you that he's not aware of it.
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I dunno, I don't get it either...but I guess one isn't expected to get an in-joke when one has been away for weeks, which is, like, forever, in cyber terms.
Is he aware he's referring to himself in the 3rd person? Haha!
You may lie to them, but never to me, right darling? ;)
Hey spicy Ty! I was just checking out your page, looks like you had a helluva weekend, can't wait to hear more about it. Tell me MM kicked ass, tell me!
My Trusted MOGs
1- i want to see your Highland-type dancing
2- gush away
3- love the Purple Rain thingie
4- love the avatar, it spells 'holiday' all over
5- impromptu fiddling!
missing you, dear kris. (:
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Missing you too, love!
The Highland dancing, it's easy, just a lot of bouncing and kicking. I tried getting a couple of guys to join in but they somehow found it impossible to lift their feet from the ground. They were pretty good at the bouncing nonetheless!
That's one of the first things I noticed and loved about you, dear Ilay - it's always obvious you take the time to read all of people's words and take notice of the details.
See you next week! xo
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A post that entails 'swimming in the warm ocean under the stars', 'sea-kayaking', and a Cape Breton wedding...brilliant. Enjoyed reading and welcome back if only for a short while. Cheers!
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Hey thanks! Nice to see ya!
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aw shush. in the words of Mogger dachmo (tho' not verbatim): i do not have a job, can you tell? ;p nah, i do have a job, and here is one thing i don't know if i've read - where on earth are you off to this time? (wherever it is, have fun luv!)
My Trusted MOGs
What a beautifully told story of an enchanting weekend, with a musical finale to top it off. Bravo!
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local produce (?) ahem ;o) sounds delightful!
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Haha, Kat! You don't miss a thing either! ;)
Spike! I always feel I've done something right when your avatar shows up on my page. Thank you very much.
Ilay, I spent the weekend in Quebec City, soooo beautiful! Just got back and catching up now...
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Sorry we missed each other K. It was a wonderful month away, but I'm glad to be home resting my liver. Man, you coasters can party hardy. No complaints here though. I'm glad you're time in Cape Breton went so well, tequila girl.....
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I liked that incongruous musical moment you had with strangers off a boat playing Such Great Heights! Two weeks ago I travelled to the microscopic town of Rosebud, Alberta and saw a dinner theatre production. During the meal, three local teens serenaded the audience with tunes by the likes of The Rankins and the Sound of Music soundtrack. In the midst of their playlist, they broke into "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" by Death Cab. It was rather surreal!
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Cool! Oh, it wasn't incongruous at all though, is the thing! I freakin love all those talented kids in CB!