October 2, 1987

Today we're on our way nearly to Canada to go to Ely--6 hours north of Minneapolis/St. Paul to see Aunt Winnie and cousins Kim and Linnea. They came to our wedding in Chicago, which was 29 years ago today, so it's about time we get up to see them. Even though they live up near the Arctic Circle.

On our wedding day, we had relatives from all over coming in to Chicago. It was really nice of so many people to come all that way. And everyone helped get things ready for the big event. Some went to pick up the helium and balloons and filled them for the send off/balloon release after the ceremony. Our wedding hostess from the church yelled at us for having balloons in the sanctuary. But we tried to keep them out. It's just that my 78 year old grandma got cold waiting for us to come out for the send off so she stepped back inside. So the wedding hostess yelled at my old cold gramma.

Someone else was assigned to take our luggage to our hotel suite for us. When we arrived there late that night after the reception, we found the wrong luggage had been delivered. Nothing of mine was there and instead I had my ten year old sister's stuff and some odds and ends in a sack from the bridesmaids when we changed at the church. To go home the next day, I cobbled together an outfit of a denim miniskirt and a pink fuzzy sweater and wore the only shoes I had, which were my high heel white pumps and the only underwear, which were my lacy white pantyhose. I looked like a hooker. With no style. So when we went back to our apartment where all the out of town people were meeting up, we hailed a cab and Jason got in with his tasteless companion for the night.

By Sunday morning, everyone headed back to their home and I got the stomach flu. On Monday we were to leave for London and considered cancelling, but decided to go ahead knowing I'd just be sleeping another 12 hours on the plane anyway so we might as well try it. I didn't really eat much for the first few days in England, but everyone knows England isn't known for it's food.

We stayed in England for ten wonderful days. We saw Chess and Mousetrap in the West End, and toured all over, experiencing the real England, guided by my cousins Joe and Florie, who lived just outside of London. (They came from the half of the family who didn't emigrate from the UK to the US.)

I really hope to get to England again some day. But until then, I'll enjoy going nearly to the Arctic Circle in Ely. We'll visit with Aunt Winnie and reminisce about old times, including the time 29 years ago today they came all the way to Chicago to release balloons over our heads to help us celebrate. And this time, I'll be sure to carry my luggage myself!