Dave married Sonny

PJ and I were privileged to be invited to Dave Kollar's wedding to Sonny - in a lovely chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada at 4p on Friday, December 9.  Also in attendance was Dave's brother - Ron (who is a quite excellent guy to be sure - just as I recall him from the late '70s - something about that family, I think).

Right after the wedding!  It was lovely.

Our flight arrived a little after 2p; we figure out a few logistics and join the three of them at a room at the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas.  Great seeing Ron again (first time for PJ meeting him); great meeting Sonny (finally!) (and yes I hope to learn spelling of her Korean name sooner than later); always great catching up with Dave.  Laughs, chatter, we get organized and head over to the wedding chapel.

Best man taking care of business.

Where they actually do a really nice job with the ceremony!  Prior we have a few extra minutes to spend - a good opportunity to chat a bit about what's happening - kind of an amazing development for Dave, and Sonny.  The bride looks quite lovely indeed.  Seems there's something special about folks like this getting married a little later in life, let's say - Dave and Sonny clearly really connect, it was so lovely throughout.  Ron did a fine job discharging his witnessing and ring-delivering duties.  PJ and I take a few pictures but mostly are just happy to be there.  PJ is in text-msg communication with a few folks, all of them pretty fired up to hear about what's going on.

Dave and Sonny pick out a few photos (via the chapel's staff photographer); back to the hotel; champagne, snacks, congratulations, talking, laughing, delightful.  We relocate to Vic & Anthony's - right in the hotel - this is a really fine restaurant, they do a great job beginning to end.  Nicole and Kerry had chipped in towards a round, which was quite a nice gesture.  I join Dave with his favored beverage (Manhattan, I mean Manhattans) (and of course invoked Ronald Gales).  The steak and tuna tartare are quite excellent, as are the entrees (and, ok, the drinks).  Lotsa excellent talking throughout.  Warm; lovely!

Not sure what was my favorite part of dinner:  the food, the drinks, the company, or the nonstop chatter?

We gather our stuff and go to take a quick look at their room at the Mandarin Oriental on the strip - that place is every bit as stylish as advertised.  Say our goodbyes, but mostly thanking them for including us in something so unique.  Uber to airport; easy flight; Uber home by around 1:15a.  POC and NOC are staying over after a Dbacks event, they show up a few minutes later and we all chatter until 2a.

Just really a fine day.  Have never attended a wedding quite like it.

Pregame prep.

Almost time (outside chapel).

Dave and Sonny!

Visiting Dad (with side trips)

I visited Minnesota and Iowa from December 1-5, 2016.

It's somewhat amazing to consider that I've been able to enjoy my "family of origin," if that's the right term, for 60 years now!  (And counting.)  How lucky is that?  (Including that EMG continues to do so well.)  So many folks made an effort to be available over those days; only major gap was not working in the Storm Lake crew.

After Thursday lunch (TMG already had skedaddled.)

 It was early December - but weather fine throughout - no issues whatever.

Thursday (December 1) was travel day - rather like my trip two years ago, smooth travels and then I drive into downtown MSP to meet Steve, Cecilia (recent birthday girl) and Therese (day-of-birthday girl but on pretty-tight schedule due to a work event) for lunch.  This time we went to the restaurant inside the Guthrie (super-close to Cecilia's work); all perfectly delightful, fun to catch up.  Then I drive down to Mason City - as in 2014, first stop at Steve/Liz house; then Steve and I make a short but fun stop at the "football club" he and a bunch of his pals have been part of for quite a few years now.  These Thursday night sessions take place at a bar that used to be an A&W; there are some pitchers, and some generally-friendly wagering, and a nice time.  Then we pick up Liz and meet a group for dinner at "Thai Bistro" in downtown Mason City - we were really happy with the food; celebrating some encouraging news; plus S&L just know some really nice people - quite a fine time.  Back to the house; we watch the Vikings (losing to Dallas) for a while; I get a pretty wonderful night's sleep.

Visiting Wells Fargo; chart on computer screen shows Steve's typical investment advisory results, or something.

Friday (December 2) - breakfast, Liz off to work (Darlene Love show), then I go check out Steve's office - interesting to see the various screens of Wells Fargo information from which he works - also met the guy Steve offices with - time well spent.  S&L thoughtfully send along some leftovers - scalloped potatoes and bean soup - these end up serving EMG 'n me as our core food items through my entire time in St. Joe.  Then onto St. Joe (with a short Fareway stop).  Dad and I talk, and talk; lunch; then we head to Algona for some visiting - but our first stop (Jerry Weydert) - is quite delightful, we fall behind schedule, we decide not to push on for other folks until the next day - very good conversations.  Bulls get a nice win over Cleveland as we eat leftover Thai and those scalloped taters.

Ah, Iowa scenery.  This is along Highway 18, westbound enroute to St. Joe.
Learned that they had a colossal harvest.

Saturday (December 3) - breakfast; EMG and I just get into talking patterns about all sorts of topics.  A big chunk of time was spent going through his diary from fall 1971 - I had inquired about Steve's hitchhiking over Thanksgiving that year (and EMG and I had driven him back up to Collegeville on the Sunday) - anyway that triggered a bunch of things to think about, and talk about.  Eventually we eat some leftovers, then to Algona - visited Fr. Friedmann and Charlie Lickteig at one of the rest homes - time very well spent.  Then we drive over to visit Caroline - thought she looked really good, she was working on a quilt as we arrive.  Crackers, cheese, "Bormann bourbon" - and the very nicest conversation; the time went by way too fast and now it was into the evening.  Snow was falling - not really the accumulating type, but a very lovely effect for someone who seldom sees it.  EMG and I are on the phone a bit that evening, we also keep track of Penn State beating Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship game.  And eat some bean soup and those scalloped taters.  Something different was that I ran hot water and dish-washing soap into the sink and cleaned up a few plates and utensils - kind of proud of that effort.

Never miss visiting this lady; never fail to find it delightful.

Sunday (December 4) - 10a Mass at St. Joe Church, always a privilege to be able to attend there.  Big crowd; then a big crowd also over at coffee & rolls.  Talked to various, including Mark & Sue Bormann, Rich Kohlhaas, Chris Capesius, etc. - all this is just so pleasant.  EMG and I check out the cemetery but at this time it's cold and quite windy.  A little napping ensued; EMG's knee pretty swollen for the last few days so we get it checked out at the emergency department; on the way home from Algona we do some fine touring-by-automobile - visit the farm homestead; drive over to the Ray Gales farm area; a lovely late afternoon, nice to drive around with my dad and see the old sights - rather unbeatable, actually.  Eventually we make it home, do our leftover thing, a little football, a LOT more talking.  I was collecting some of the details on some old pictures I like.

Favorite view up the hill . . . though obscured a bit on a lovely winter morning.

Monday (December 5) - 8a Mass at St. Joe Church.  We come back to the house and make coffee and breakfast.  And just talk about all sorts of stuff, which is really quite fine - so many interesting things to look back on and explore.  The time flies by; I gather up my stuff and hit the road by about 1p - easy road trip back to the Twin Cities - given Therese's likely unavailability on December 1, we had hoped to squeeze in a short meeting at WA Frost prior to my flight - she had reached out a bit and we ended up with the nicest group - Dan and Barb (in town by coincidence relating to some vehicular wheeling-and-dealing); Therese and Mark; Nick, Maeve, Beau and Jude (though the latter three had to leave early); Steve and Cecilia; me.  A fine gathering indeed!  Enjoyed seeing the young fellas; enjoyed talking, and laughing, and talking, with the rest of the group.  Like with the rest of the trip - the time just flies by.  Hustle to airport, back to AZ.

Weekday Mass, Fr. Kollasch as celebrant; nice to be in the old church . . . 

 So much talking throughout - I truly love hearing the old voices telling the old stories - even when there is an element of repetition, it seems like one appreciates the stories differently as one ages; and - perhaps - one can now see a little more depth around all these topics.  I try not to take for granted that I'm so lucky to still have access to this.

Solid crew, fine beers and sandwiches at W.A. Frost in St. Paul . . . but we had lost
our most photogenic subjects before beckoning the waiter to snap this.

A rare trip without PJ, who about a month ago had spent a long weekend in Virginia doing dress-shopping with Kerry (Nicole also attended).  Always discombobulating to be on the road without my multi-decade travel pal!  (Also results in shortage of photos.)

And yes, I missed seeing Mom in St. Joe.

Ah, Iowa scenery - where else
might one see a lovely mini-refrigerator
looking like this?  (Courtesy
Jerry Weydert)