Flashback Friday - Ancient Reception

We continue now with the reception of a wedding many years ago. Setting the stage, I married my high school sweetheart on June 4th at the church in Seaton. Then we had a neighborhood and close friend pre-party at the house on the back porch, Then we all went over to Aledo to the Oakview Country Club for the reception.

A kiss and a dance. 

I've been blessed with a few great close friends.  Two of them are in this picture.  The one on the left was my Uncle and Boss-on-the-farm, Ed Rader.  The one on the right was my G-burg buddy, Mike Johnson.  Both were funny and left an indelible mark on me.  Ed because I spent summers working for him and learned how to do so much.  I became a man working on the farm and learned personal interaction, humor, and the graces of humanity with Ed.  I embarrassingly bawled like a baby at his funeral.  Mike, because he was so damned nice and would literally drop anything to help.  Just as funny as Ed, but in his own way, Mike was, in a way, the Ying to Ed's Yang:  bawdier, worldlier, Mike was someone to have more personal conversations and relax with a beer after a long week.  We talked about all kinds of things and it was nice to have that anchor as I was starting my career at the Mary.  It was a nice juxtaposition that I went from working with Ed and having him, to G-Burg with Mike.  He also served as Master at Arms at the wedding, but that's a story for later.   I bawled like a baby on a phone call to my older brother the night of his passing, complaining all my friends were leaving.  I still miss you guys, but feel awful lucky I had you both in my corner.

Ed and my father Herb.  Why the glum look, Dad?  I'm paying the bill.

Mike and My Boss of bosses, Randy Storm.  Perhaps the funniest of them all, Randy was one of the quickest guys I knew.  He hired me as a Counselor right out of grad school, then proceeded to promote me along the way to Supervisor and Program Coordinator.  I owe a lot to Randy and for most of the time at MDH, he made working there a supreme pleasure.  

I've taken off the tie and suit and changed into something more comfortable.  Grab a beer and let's party.  What i don't get is where are pictures of Pat, Mark, Phil, Janine, Marvin, and others.  Must be another photo album around here somewhere.

Giving instructions to attendees our route to the next bar when the Club closes.  Tanny Storm on the far left with Jeff and Carol Sutor in the middle.  Jeff, of course, writes the Bodine-DILLIGAF blog not to be missed.  He also worked with me for several years before he left to work with adults at Henry Hill.  His escape left a void in my days at MDH.   

Kevin and Pam Webber.  Worked with Kevin at the Mary for a few years.

Nancy and her sister Patti.  An extraordinary woman.  Strong (like all Mitchells), funny, and great fun to be around.  Up for anything,  she has lived in Indianapolis for years depriving us of her company, charm and wit.  Florida has a couple of openings if you don't mind being one of the un-crazy Floridians. 

Having a beer with my college friend and fraternity brother, Mark Neish of Nebraska, who now lives in Idaho.

Mother of the bride, Doris Mitchell.  Sister Carollyn is in the background.

Receiving congratulations or condolences, I'll leave that to you.

I wanted to end this portion of the reception pciures with this one of some of my parents friends.  The Wilmans on the far left, Doris Seaton in the middle and Dorothy and Don Levine on the right.  Don and Dorothy were great friends of he family and sadly, Don passed away several years ago.  Dorothy, however, just turned 89 and attended Mackenzie and Drew's wedding last month.  She is still out and about, driving and going to the casino every whipstitch.

Here is Dorothy at the reception for Drew and Mackenzie.  She was one of my Mother's great friends and she was and remains a friend of the family.