Prior to and after the actual wedding, we had several guests. Our first was Angelika from Germany, who has known Norma since high school. She lived at the farm for three weeks as part of an exchange student program. Coming from a farming background, the two of them really hit it off. Since then, Norma has visited Angelika in Germany where she now works as a medical doctor. Returning for Norma's and my wedding is only Angelika's second visit to the states. We wanted this to be every bit as good as the first.

First, we decided to show Angelika a bit of our town, Savage. In my opinion, one of the most scenic parts is the Savage Mill Trail which parallels the Little Patuxent River.

After our little walk, Norma took Angelika to Meridian Hill Park where they joined others to wish Norma's friend, Aimee, a final farewell before her relocation to Texas. At the park, Angelika saw a drumming circle, which she had never seen before. Being the quick learner that she is, she got the hang of it then jumped right in as a participant.

Later that night, they went out to dinner at Busboys and Poets. Aimee is second from the left in the below snapshot.
I am guilty of not attending Aimee's event. It was a fine day to be outside and one of the last that I might have to spend on the water for some time. I typically get out on the water once a week during daylight savings time so being on land for two straight weeks is not easy for me. Thus, I spent the afternoon with my Yolo Prowler stand-up paddleboard (SUP) on the Patuxent River. See my Hall Creek blog. After that, my batteries were recharged and I was ready for anything.

I mentioned that our wedding ceremony would be on October 7. But we decided to get the legal part out of the way first.

Our original goal was to do like my good friend Mike B. did at his wedding on December 31, 2011. He chose his best man, Wayne G., to "officiate" the ceremony. This is a big college word that means Wayne took the role of a minister and wed Mike and his now wife Suzanne. Wayne signed the paperwork, making the whole marriage legal in the state of California.

But Norma and I were not to be wed in California so things weren't quite so simple. We could have had a non-minister work through an organization on-line to become a minister for a day so they would marry us. But I was strongly against that since I felt there were too many things that could go wrong. I also know that the government doesn't do well when handling things out of the ordinary so it was best to just keep things simple.

Thus, we made an appointment several days prior then went to the courthouse in Ellicott City. That morning, we were legally wed with Angelika as our witness.
Outside of the courthouse, we posed for another photo.
In the eyes of the law, we were married on October 1. But we would celebrate on October 7, when we were to be married in the eyes of our family and friends.

As a little mini-celebration, we drove a very short distance to the historic section of Ellicott City. We stopped at a little French cafe then walked around a bit. Here's Angelika next to something old.
We walked across a bridge over the Patapsco River. Looking down, we saw several rocks arranged in the shape of a heart, about nine feet wide. I tried to tell Norma I came out the night before and did that but I couldn't say it with a straight face.

I headed off to work while Norma and Angelika went shopping to prepare for the wedding. Below, Norma holds small pumpkins to be used as table decorations.

While I worked, Norma did some wedding shopping while Angelika went to Washington D.C. for the day to do some sightseeing. She took the MARC Train to Union Station then set out on foot to explore.

She went into the Botanic Gardens building where she saw a plethora of exotic plants and flowers, including some interesting aquatic plants.
Inspired by the Botanic Gardens, Angelika came home to help Norma in her herb garden.

Norma and Angelika headed out to visit Norma's mother, Hazel.

The house seemed too quiet when I got home, except for Asha (Norma's cat) who doesn't shut up until she gets what she wants.

Norma worked on the wedding text that would be read during the ceremony. We spoke and I gave my input. Then I made some revisions and forwarded it onto our maid of honor and "best man."

Much to my relief, everyone seemed perfectly fine with the revisions I made to the wedding text. Whew!

Norma and Angelika went to the farm to get things in order. A week prior, Norma, her family, and I cut grass, pulled weeds, cleaned out the barn, and put up lights.

Today, the two of them got tables and chairs arranged, and took care of other stuff in the barn.
Angelika hadn't been to the farm for about 25 years. She currently lives on a farm with several animals so she has a deep appreciation for rural life. I'm sure seeing the dogs, Frida and Chloe, and the goats made her feel a little closer to home.

Back in Savage, I worked and then went to Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport to pick up my parents.

Work didn't go so well as I left things feeling undone. Not a good way to start a full week off from work.

That night, Norma called sounding a little distressed. The barn swallows have several nests along the ridgeline at highest part of the barn. This passes directly over the center of the area we planned to have the reception. Needless to say, they crap alot. Norma explained the problem to me, but I felt rather helpless, not being there to see the actual problem. So I told her to talk to her brother-in-law Jimmy who is quite clever and would surely find a solution.

I reassured her that it would all work out fine, even if it rained on our wedding day...and there was a 50% chance of that. I also told her what Stacy wrote to me...that if things don't work out as planned, it will give us something to laugh about in the future. I also mentioned that Janie told me that rain on a wedding day is good luck. It rained on her wedding day and this month she celebrates 10 years of wedded bliss. For awhile, there was even a small chance of snow for our big day which Janie said was extra lucky. But I think she was just trying to make me think positively.

Norma, Angelika, and Hazel did more work to get the farm ready.
Perhaps the main reason Norma wanted to get married at the farm in the autumn is because of the fall colors. We would have guests from Germany, Japan, and California. Many of them have never seen the striking beauty of the foliage at this time of year. For most of Maryland, the colors aren't so spectacular. But the farm is at the extreme westernmost side of the state, with an elevation of about 2350 feet, and usually 10 degrees cooler than Baltimore. Hence, the autumn starts sooner and yields colors that one would expect further north.

While Hazel and Angelika spent time at the farm, Norma drove out to Dulles Airport to pick up her guests from Japan: Hitomi, Ikuyo, and Sonomi (Ikuyo's daughter). It was a long drive there and then back to Garrett County (where the motel, Hazel, and the farm reside). I'm estimating she spent six hours behind the wheel that day. By the time she was done and settled into the Casselman Inn in Grantsville, she deserved a nice glass of wine.

I didn't have anything special planned for my parents. Mom told me I was free to go into work if I wanted. I took her up on that and got in a few hours, finishing the task I left yesterday. With that off my chest, I knew I would enjoy my time off a lot more.

Mom and Dad took it easy, looking at Norma's garden and going for a short walk in the neighborhood.

Once I got home, I took Mom for another walk. Dad was all walked out so he stayed home.

My cousin Steve and old friend Ken flew in later. Unfortunately, due to some miscommunication, they rented a car and drove out to the Casselman Inn that night, expecting me to be there. I, however, would not arrive until the next day.

My folks and I were up early and on the road shortly after, heading to Grantsville. We arrived at the Casselman Inn just as Norma, Hazel, Hitomi, Ikuyo, Sonomi, Ken, and Steve were finishing up breakfast. This was my first time meeting Ikuyo and Sonomi.

Our convoy made its way to Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania. Norma and I have spent a lot of time there hiking, bicycling, and cross country skiing. Our last visit was June 16, 2012 when we biked the Great Allegheny Passage. It would have been nice to spend more time there today but we had a lot to see and do. So instead, we pulled into a parking lot then walked a short distance to the Youghiogheny River (Yough) to catch some views. We saw a group of whitewater rafters getting ready to launch. It seemed a little too cold to really enjoy such a trip but at least they were dressed appropriately.

We pulled into town, parked, then walked out onto the bridge that passes over the Yough.

Our next stop was Fallingwater. My last trip there was October 6, 2007, exactly five years ago, with my parents. But today, they and Hazel opted not to join in, instead heading off to the Springs Folk Festival in Pennsylvania.

What is Fallingwater?
Fallingwater is the name of a very special house that is built over a waterfall. Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most famous architect, designed the house for his clients, the Kaufmann family. Fallingwater was built between 1936 and 1939. It instantly became famous, and today it is a National Historic Landmark.
- from What is Fallingwater?

Mike and Suzanne met us at the house and joined us for the tour.

We weren't permitted to take photos in the house on the guided tour but we took plenty outside.

After our tour, we drove to meet our parents at the Springs Folk Festival. Along the way, we stopped to take pictures of some beautiful fall colors. The sun was playing peek-a-boo with us so we were most appreciative of those moments where it shined brightly, thus making things more vibrant.

At the Springs Folk Festival, we got some good old country and/or Pennsylvania Dutch food. This was Ken's second time on the east coast and Steve's first so they weren't familiar with kettle corn or funnel cake. Steve had a fried pickle and fresh apple cider. I think I had some of Norma's buckwheat pancake. I also bought and ate some chestnuts hot off the grill.

There were lots of country crafts on display along with farm equipment and animals.

Allison and Mark showed up with their daughter Viviana. Mark is a professional photographer. He shot a nice picture of Ken and me.
As the day went on, more and more people rolled in including Sherri, Gary, Ashlyn, Luke, and Lisa. Things were becoming quite festive with so many friendly faces.

We all met for dinner at Penn Alps. They were nice enough to give us our own private dining room. Most of us chose the buffet which meant more good country food.

While we ate, Mark made the rounds, working his magic with his Nikon D800.

Mark wasn't the only one taking photos that night. Here are some shots by Hitomi or Angelika.

After dinner, several of us hung out in our motel room at the Casselman Inn. With Ken and I knowing each other since at least the third grade, someone asked if he had any interesting stories to share. We both thought and couldn't come up with much. But then Mike started to reminisce about our time over in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. I think the two of us ended up monopolizing the conversation on our half of the room for the next hour, hardly giving anyone else a chance to get in a word.

There was still a lot of work to do so Norma took my parents and Hitomi to the farm to help get things ready. My job was to keep our other guests entertained.

We met for breakfast at Penn Alps. In that area, Penn Alps and the Casselman Inn are the two big eating places. But the Casselman Inn restaurant, like many businesses around there, is closed on Sunday. So it's either Penn Alps or break open the Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs).

After breakfast, people followed me to Swallow Falls State Park. The last time I was there was September 18, 2011. Whenever Norma and I have guests visiting the farm, we take them to the falls. I can't think of any other place in Maryland where one can see so many nice views in such a small space. It is ideal for folks of all ages since the walk is only about two miles (I don't know the actual distance) and very easy.

I took people on the walk, stopping at Tolliver Falls first. This, like all the other falls in the park, are part of the Youghiogheny River.

Next, we walked to Upper and Lower Swallow Falls, which are popular swimming areas during the summer. I swam there with Clark, Carmen, and Norma a few summers ago. Here's Lisa at Upper Swallow Falls.
From this same location, looking downriver, one can get quite a view. Looking upstream, we could see where we walked from and Swallow Falls Road.

Continuing our counterclockwise loop walk, we had a different view of the falls from the location below. Had I been a better photographer, I would have gotten the people AND the falls in the picture.
There are lots of rocks in the park.
Many of these rocks date back to the Pennsylvanian Period and are about 300 million years old. Some, like those in the one shown below are cantilevered.
A few of the boulders are just big singletons that sit there such as the one behind me.
Some of the most interesting rocks in the park form craggy vertical walls.

Carmen couldn't resist going for a little climb. I might have joined her but the thought of falling and fracturing my arm just hours before my own wedding prevented me from doing so. The verbal abuse I would get from Norma would be far worse than the broken arm.
Soon we came to the climax of the hike, Muddy Creek Falls. This is Maryland's highest free falling waterfall. This is not to be confused with Cunningham Falls which is Maryland's highest cascading waterfall, meaning it doesn't make one continuous big drop like Muddy Creek Falls. This was the perfect place to take lots of photos.

Returning back to the parking lot, we walked through a stand of old Hemlock trees, some more than 300 years old. This is one of the few remaining in the state (according to Wikipedia - Swallow Falls State Park).

After our little scenic stroll, Ken and I changed quickly into our wedding attire then drove out to the farm to help the others get things ready. The rest of the group remained behind, taking their time to make sure they were in their Sunday best for the big event. They would catch up with us later.

At the farm, Norma was leading the effort to get all the last minute details taken care of. She assigned my parents the task of folding napkins and inserting some fall foliage in each.

Norma made sure each table was properly decorated with fern leaves and small pumpkins, the same ones she bought at Home Depot on our legal wedding day.
Hitomi, Mom, Dad, and Norma gathered flowers to decorate the tables.

Laah, Norma's youngest sister and the co-owner of the farm, worked on making the farm look festive.
Scott, Laah's husband and other farm co-owner, also helped out with various tasks and with preparing the feature food of the day...bacon wrapped venison. This is venison from a deer he shot on the farm just three days prior. Bacon and venison...two great tastes that taste great together.

As guests started to roll in, those who arrived early lent a hand. Ralph, Junkyard Jimmy, Ken, and I put up the projector screen. Jenn and her boyfriend Bob set up the audio equipment. I got the laptop set up and did a function check with Ralph's projector. Everything was good to go. Fortunately, I had tested things out with Ralph's projector and Jenn's Yamaha SV12 speakers and Yamaha EMX 640 amp several days prior so as to avoid surprises. I also had back ups for the slideshow and the music, but as it turned out, those would not be needed.

The farm was looking fine.
...in all its autumn glory.
My music was playing (I started off with bluegrass to contribute to the farm atmosphere), decorative candle bags were laid out, and the caterers had appetizers set out for all to enjoy.

Norma changed into her wedding attire and was prepared to greet the rest of our guests.

Below is Jenn and Bob, her boyfriend. Jenn is my "best man." Who says the best man has to be a man? I rented a room off Jenn for a few years. Over that time, we became really good friends. So she knows everything about me...and still likes me.
In the below pic, we make the pilgrimage through the cow pasture to the location for the ceremony.
Here's Clark waiting patiently for the wedding ceremony to commence. Clark is a brilliant NASA scientist who will humbly deny being brilliant...but he is.
My kayaking friends Suzanne (no, not Mike's wife, a different Suzanne), Brian, and his girlfriend, Kristina, showed up later. They had just come from several days of kayaking in Cape Cod. It was good to see them.

People didn't seem to have any trouble driving up the uneven dirt road to the farm. I expected at least one would get stuck or have vehicle damage but Norma assured me otherwise. She was right.

Months prior, Norma and I discussed where the wedding should be held. We could hold it in our town, Savage, or at the farm. If in Savage, we could hold the reception just down the street from us at the Carroll Baldwin Hall. Renting the hall was ridiculously inexpensive. But we have only lived in Savage since late 2009. So instead, she chose to have the wedding at the family farm, where her parents spent most of their lives and where she lived until leaving for college. She had many fond memories at the farm. Some of these memories were of the old oak tree in the cow pasture where she and her sisters would play. Hence, it was decided that the wedding would be at the farm with the ceremony at the oak tree.
Our biggest concern for the day was the weather. It held out very nicely on the morning hike. It was cool with off-and-on overcast but not rainy. According to one source, the high temperature for that day was only 46 degrees. There was a 60% chance of rain as of that morning. So far, we were lucky but I wasn't so sure our luck would hold out. Around 1520, we arrived at the oak tree. It was a little cold and breezy. Under my velvety red shirt and sports coat, I was warm enough, though I suppose the stress of being half of the center of attention with about 50 guests was enough to keep me from noticing the cold.

Prior to our arrival, Laah and Scott put out hay bales for folks to sit on.
It was just under a half mile walk to the oak tree. Along the way, folks took in views of Savage River State Forest and Backbone Mountain, to the southeast. Backbone Mountain is the highest point in Maryland at an elevation of 3360 feet above sea level. To the west lay open fields that Scott and Laah plowed or which the cattle used for grazing.
To the north were acres upon acres of trees which held numerous deer, wild turkey, coyote, and a few black bear. It is no wonder Norma wanted to have what might be the most important day of her life here on the farm, at the oak tree.
As the last of our group arrived, we said a few final words to Sherri and Jenn with scripts in hand. Norma scolded Sherri for not being color coordinated with the rest of us...no...just kidding. Actually, it was just a coincidence that Jenn matched us.

The ceremony commenced with some words that Norma originally put together. This was based on some marriage books she picked up from the local library. I gave my input then Sherri and Jenn gave their input. Lots of modifications were made, more input was given, etc., until we came up with something everyone could agree on. It wasn't too short or too long and it was both meaningful and personalized.

Here's Norma and I trying to look relaxed. Jenn commented that this is the first wedding she has ever been to where the bride picked her bouquet on the way to the ceremony.
Finally, we got things started.
Here are some of our favorite pics.

Below, Norma places a ring on my finger. These rings were ordered from Etsy, which was recommended to us by Carmen. Both our rings are sterling silver, decorated with oak leaves and acorns. At Sherri's suggestion, some of our wedding text compared the oak tree to a marriage:
The oak's strong roots reach deep down into the earth so that it can also stretch far into the sky.
In the same way, may your relationship root deeply to enable it to withstand adversity.

The next part of the ceremony was the "friendship circle." This is something that started with the Quakers. People were invited to share their thoughts and feelings about us joining our lives together.

Hazel sometimes finds walking difficult. So Scott, being the knight in shining armor that he is, gives her a ride back on his all-terrain vehicle (ATV).

Recall that on October 4, Norma told me that barn swallows were crapping all over stuff in the barn. Well Jimmy, Scott, Norma, and Angelika came up with a nifty solution. They hung a plastic painters tarp across the danger zone, far above everyone's heads. Then they decorated it with hanging plants. They also put up one of those fake owls that supposedly scare away smaller birds. It seemed to be working fine.
A table was set up for the wedding cake and decorations, along with a little Japanese doll couple. This was supposed to represent Norma and me though I don't think the female looked the least bit like Norma.

Guests started to gather at the round tables that filled the barn.

The caterer served dinner buffet style. Salmon, grilled pineapple, and pork barbeque were all on the menu though Scott's bacon wrapped venison was my favorite. There were also sweet potatoes from Norma's garden and white potatoes from the farm that Norma dug up. I remember that day vividly because as she turned over dirt, chickens would follow closely behind, waiting for a chance to find bugs to eat.

Unlike most newlyweds at their reception, Norma and I didn't sit together. We had lots of people visiting from all over the place. We wanted to make sure that nobody felt left out so we positioned ourselves at opposite ends of the barn. After all, we have a lifetime to spend together and only a few hours with so many of our friends in the same place.

People ate, enjoyed each other's company, and wondered what I was preparing for their audio/visual enjoyment. Just as their curiosity almost made them burst, I announced the feature presentation. It was a slideshow that I created several weeks ago. I got my parents to mail me their photo album containing old pictures of me, and I got Norma to get her old photos from Hazel. Then we went through them, selecting several pictures throughout our lives. These are snapshots that represent important life events, activities, family, friends, travels, and adventures. I scanned them in then linked them all together in a video. I also added several digital photos and music. Selecting the music was the hardest part since it had to be music we liked which somehow represented the chosen time in our life. I added captions for each photo along with introduction slides and credits. This all resulted in a presentation just over 26 minutes long. It is divided into three sections: my life before Norma, her life before me, and our lives together.

I started the video, which I call "Love of a Lifetime." Everyone was quiet at the start though I asked them to make some noise if they saw themselves in a photo. I tried to include at least one photo of each guest participating in some activity with Norma or me. I was shaking uncontrollably. I don't know if it was because I was cold or nervous. Norma kept telling me that people would lose interest because a 26 minute video was far too long but I disagreed. This was the time to see if she was right. As the old photos appeared on the screen, people laughed and cheered. For the section depicting my early years, I had a little Guns 'n' Roses tune in the background..."Sweet Child O' Mine." This was played to scenes of my martial art activities, life in the Marines, going to college, and other stuff. Norma's life was set to the tune of songs by the Dillards, Willie Nelson, and Carrie Newcomer. These accompanied scenes of her with friends, traveling in Europe, living in Japan, etc. I think the photo that really got people's attention was the one with Norma as a little girl holding a big snake. Even back then, she had a deep appreciation of nature. In the third part, images were shown from our six years together...most of it spent outdoors kayaking, hiking, or bicycling. One of the songs played for this section was Love of a Lifetime by Firehouse. Not only is this what I named the video, but it is our song, and the phrase engraved on the inside of both our wedding rings. Here is the chorus of this classic big hair power ballad:
     I finally found the love of a lifetime
     A love to last my whole life through
     I finally found the love of a lifetime
     Forever in my heart, I finally found the love of a lifetime.

Next, I told people that they could come up and say whatever they wanted. They could tell a story about Norma and me, make a toast, etc. Unlike the friendship circle at the ceremony, this was more light-hearted and informal. Jenn started off by explaining her impression of me when we first met and how unique she thought I was. We coordinated prior to this so that when she spoke, a Gaussian distribution (bell curve) appeared on the screen along with lines to denote the position of standard deviations. She explained what this all meant like a tentured Ivy League college professor. She also explained how I was way out in the right tail of the curve...two standard deviations from the mean. She also said that Norma was the one for me because she too is just as unique and special.

Keeping with the math theme, I recited a poem from memory that I first heard in a fine movie called Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. The poem is called Square Root of Three and it is by David Feinberg. I added in lots of hand and arm gestures to go with it. Two months prior, every time I went into my garage to exercise, I practiced this poem until it was burned into the hard drive of my brain.
     I feared that I would always be
     A lonely number like root three.
     The three is all that’s good and right,
     Why must my three keep out of sight.
     Beneath the vicious square root sign,
     I wish instead I were a nine.
     For nine could thwart this evil trick,
     with just some quick arithmetic.
     I know I’ll never see the sun,
     as 1.7321.
     Such is my reality,
     a sad irrationality.
     When hark! What is this I see?
     Another square root of a three.
     As quietly co-waltzing by,
     Together now we multiply.
     To form a number we prefer,
     Rejoicing as an integer.
     We break free from our mortal bonds
     And with the wave of magic wands.
     Our square root signs become unglued
     Your love for me has been renewed.

The poem was a big success. It was both silly and meaningful. I got lots of laughs.

Other people came up to the microphone to say a few words about Norma and me. Clark even played a couple of songs on his guitar. One was a classical piece while the other was something he wrote.
I mentioned something I read just three days prior. The full text is as follows. It was forwarded to me by one of the Marine Corps League guys who didn't know I was getting married:
No English dictionary has been able to adequately explain the difference between the two words. In a recently held linguistic competition in London, England, attended by the best in the world, Samsundar Balgobin, a Guyanese man from Bachelors Adventure, was the clear winner with a standing ovation lasting over five minutes. Here is his answer which made him receive an invitation to dine with the Queen. He won a trip to travel the world in style and a case of 25 year old Eldorado rum for his answer.
His final question was this. How to explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED in a way that is easy to understand. Some people say there is no difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED.
Here is his astute answer...when you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE, And when you marry the wrong woman, you are FINISHED. And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!
I pointed out that Norma makes me complete.

Mike told a story about him and me during the Gulf War. He mentioned how I ran on foot in full combat gear for miles in the desert to mark the route for him to follow. We couldn't use the lights on our vehicles for fear of giving away our position but I could run on foot while shining a light pointed straight down. That was enough for him to follow in the Humvee. Thus, running in the tracks of the vehicle in front, I helped ensure we stayed together. Of course the way he said it was much more entertaining.
Sherri also said some nice words and wished us many happy years together. She told about the first time she met me. This was when Norma threw a big party, inviting all her friends over. I helped out for several hours, preparing and grilling the food and assisting with cleanup from start to finish. I think my hard work made a good first impression on her.
Ralph said how his first memory of me was when I brought an MRE for dinner on a kayak trip he led. A few years later, he met Norma and knew she was perfect for me because she could make a nice home-cooked meal and thus break me of my bad MRE habit.

I could tell Norma was having fun as she was smiling ear to ear.
It had been raining pretty hard while we ate dinner but shortly after, it stopped. That was Angelika's chance to give Norma and me a little bit of what she learned in Germany. She asked everyone to step outside and then form a circle around Norma and me. Next, she gave instructions for a little dance. Once the music started, the group started moving in a circle, holding hands. At different parts of the song, people closed in, stepped back, and clapped. It was a very nice gift...one that we will remember forever.

It was time to cut the wedding cake. This fine piece of art was decorated as a tree, complete with leaves and acorns.
Some layers contained chocolate raspberry cake while others contained carrot cake. There were also lemon cupcakes. Norma cut the first piece while guests watched. Based on the looks on their faces, I don't know if they were in awe of Norma's beauty or wanting to sink their teeth into some dessert...perhaps both. Norma fed me the first bite and I fed her the second. We avoided the "cake fight urge" that many newlyweds often succumb to.

The last organized activity for the evening was the sing along. Whenever Norma, Carmen, and I get together, we sing The Gambler, a classic country song recorded by Kenny Rogers and written by Don Schlitz. I was hoping to find a karaoke video I could download then play at the wedding. While I did find a video with the music and words, I could not download it. So I positioned my camera in front of my computer and recorded it on my camera as it played. Then I downloaded it onto my computer and loaded it into a Windows Live Movie Maker document. But while the video was fine, the sound was terrible. So I superimposed my digital recording of The Gambler onto the video. But now the two were not in synch. So I adjusted the play speed of the video. After several attempts, it matched. I saved this to a file about three days before the wedding.

Carmen came up and helped me lead the sing along. The last time she and I sang this song, we were driving back across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge after kayaking on August 12, 2012. Out of the blue, we started coming up with some hand gestures to go along with the music. It was these same hand gestures that inspired me to include gestures for my Square Root of Three poem. So she and I included these gestures in our sing along. Based on how well everyone sang, I'm thinking most everyone in the free world knows and loves The Gambler.
I heard what I through were firecrackers being set off but later I was told it was celebratory shotgun blasts fired into the air. I guess that is a Garrett County version of a 21 gun salute, courtesy of Scott. Yeehaw!

A bonfire burned for quite some time just outside the barn. It was the natural area to congregate early on. But now that it was getting cold, it was really the place to be as the party started to wind down.

All in all, I think people had a really good time. People were feeling happy, festive, joyous...and some were feeling loving.
As the party came to an end, it was time to put things away. The table scraps were taken downstairs and fed to the pigs. It was a good day for them too. We all worked together to put away the food, take down the lights, and get things packed up. Interestingly, as soon as I took down the fake owl, the barn swallows began chirping and flying around.

Several of us headed back to the Casselman Inn for the night. Norma led the way but somehow ended up losing a couple of cars. I was the last car but had a map so I was fine. But Steve and his passengers, Ikuyo and Sonomi, got lost. I tried to call them once I got to the motel but got no answer. I was getting ready to go out and look for them when they finally pulled in. They just missed hitting a dog on their attempt to keep up with Clark who was attempting to keep up with Norma. But no animals were hurt and everyone arrived safely so all was good.

Several of us hung out together in the common area of the Inn, eating some of the snacks in the nice gift basket that Norma's co-workers sent to her.

We stayed up until pretty late, just talking and being silly. It was a spectacular day and I didn't want it to end.

Several of us met for breakfast at the Casselman Inn. In the below image, we're walking from the motel to the restaurant.
After eating our fill at the buffet, we drove 0.7 mile to Penn Alps where we walked through the adjacent Spruce Forest Artisan Village. This is an arts and heritage center where local artists and craftsmen have a chance to display and demonstrate their talents in studios set in historic buildings.
A few of us got to see and talk to one of the artists who was busy drawing.
Many of the buildings in the village are built in the log cabin style from yesteryear.
One of the favorite shops (at least for the women) is the soap building. Here, they can buy all kinds of different fragrances.
Before leaving, Hazel passed on some of Laah's eggs to me. I sell them at work. These are from the same chickens that were eating the bugs that were uncovered when Norma dug up the white potatoes at the farm for the wedding. Unlike "factory egg" chickens, these don't live in cages. They get plenty of sunshine and fresh country air, and they get to walk around outside. Clark, being the smart guy that he is, knows that healthy chickens make healthy eggs so he bought two dozen.

Our group was getting smaller and smaller. Norma and I bid some farewells then started on our drive home. Joining us were Ken, Steve, Hazel, my parents, Hitomi, Angelika, Ikuyo, and Sonomi.

Back in Savage, I took the group on a walking tour of the town (except for Norma and Hazel who would meet us later).
The town was named for John Savage, a Philadelphia merchant with interest in a mill on the falls of the Patuxent. In 1822 he and his associates chartered the Savage Manufacturing Company, which made sails for the tall ships, among other cotton duck products. The cotton milling industry started in Maryland in the 18th century and flourished in the 19th century. Cotton was shipped cheaply from Southern ports and hauled overland by mule and oxen teams to the mills before rail transportation served Savage.
- from Wikipedia - Historic Savage, Maryland

We passed Carroll Baldwin Hall. Lately, I had been putting a good bit of time into helping the community restore the place. My good neighbors, Don, Sara, and Brian, are leading this effort.
Carroll Baldwin Hall once housed the Savage branch of the Howard County library. It was built in the early 1920s as a memorial to Carroll Baldwin, former president of the manufacturing company. The Baldwins managed the company from 1859 to 1911.

I showed our guests the brick duplexes where the mill workers lived on the west side of Baltimore Street.
I led the group to the Savage Mill Manor at the end of the street. This house, built in 1844, was supposedly the home of the first mill owner.

Turning onto Fair Street, I pointed out the Masonic Hall.
Constructed in 1897 by the Savage Manufacturing Company to serve the social needs of the Savage Mill Village, it served as a community hall, hosting various dinners and gatherings of various kinds.
- from Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties - Masonic Hall (Solomon's Lodge #121 A.F. & A.M.)

Walking down Washington Street, I directed people to the Mansion House, which is the former home of the second mill owner.
Built between the years 1859 and 1878 by the Baldwin family, the Mansion House was used as a summer home for the owner and President of the Savage Manufacturing Company.
- from Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties - Mansion House (Baldwin House)
Across from the Mansion House, we had a view of the mill. Once a cotton mill, it now serves as a complex for shops and restaurants.
The mill was started in the 1820s by Amos Williams and his three brothers. They named it and the town in which it still stands after John Savage, who lent them the money to start the business. The main product was cotton duck, used for sailcloth and a wide variety of other uses. Power was originally obtained by damming the Little Patuxent River, which runs adjacent to the mill property. In later years steam engines were used.
- from Wikipedia - Savage Mill
We walked across the Little Patuxent River via the Bollman Truss Bridge.
The mill was served by a spur off the Patuxent branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and in the 1870s a Bollman Truss Bridge was moved to the spur. This bridge survives and is the only one of its kind left. [It marks] a revolutionary design in the history of American bridge engineering. The 160-foot (48.8 m) double-span truss bridge is one of the oldest standing iron railroad bridges in the United States. It was the first successful all-metal bridge design to be adopted and consistently used on a railroad. The type was named for its inventor, Wendel Bollman, a self-educated Baltimore engineer.
- from Wikipedia - Savage Mill and Wikipedia - Bollman Truss Bridge
Turning onto the Savage Mill Trail, we walked about a half mile (one way) along the Little Patuxent River on this former railway. There were some nice whitewater views along the way. We turned around at some ruins which I believe was once a lock for a canal.

Today, Savage is a home for several refugees from Burma (Myanmar). I'm hoping one of them will open up a Burmese restaurant here in town or nearby. Speaking of food, it was time for dinner.

We met Norma and Hazel at the Rams Head Tavern for dinner. It has become a tradition for Norma and me to take visitors from out of town to the Rams Head at least once during their stay.
Steve and Dad patiently wait for their meal. Steve and I split the lobster and crabcake. The crabcake was better, in my opinion.
Here's Angelika and Ken. Angelika is trying the Rams Head beer sampler. She gave it a thumbs up which is quite a compliment being she is German and Germans know their beer.
Hitomi also enjoys the beer sampler.
This is the whole group. This picture was taken by the hostess who seemed to know everything about all makes and models of cameras.
After dinner, we walked around the mill, stopping in The Family Game Store.

Back at the house, we unwrapped a wedding gift from Ikuyo and Sonomi. It was a cartoon drawing of Norma and me! I guess Norma sent them a link to my website or at least a photo. This was enough for the artist to draw a very good likeness of the two of us. What a fantastic gift!
But this wasn't our only artistic gift. Janie and Mark gave us a water color painting of a heron done by Mark's father, Spike (Leroy). Janie finished the frame to give it an antique look. Very nice.

Now we just need to find where to display these masterpieces.

Norma and I drove our guests to Washington D.C. for the day while Hazel and my parents remained in Savage.

We parked at Union Station then set out on foot.

One of our first stops was the Capitol Building. There was a lot of construction going on there as well as the rest of the buildings. They must not have known we were coming.
Squirrels were munching on the osage oranges which were abundant.
We had a clear view of the Washington Monument in the distance.
Also in the area, we saw the National Museum of the Native American building but we didn't go in.

We checked out the National Museum of Natural History. This is a place I could spend all day in. I was hoping to show Steve and Ken a live horseshoe crab but there were none.

Ken had a flight to catch so Steve and I escorted him back to Union Station so he could catch a train to the BWI Airport. It was a fast walk and we made it with little time to spare. I hope Ken will return soon. I wanted to take him kayaking but his visit was just too short for that.

Steve and I stopped by the Memorial to Japanese-American Patriotism in World War II on the way back. His father and both my parents were interred in relocation camps during World War Two, despite being U.S. citizens.

While Steve and I were away, the women looked at the butterfly exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History.

A few of the women also had a chance to see the titanoboa display, organized by a former Miss Pork Princess of Iowa and member of my kayak club. This exhibit is of the biggest snake that ever existed; 40-50 feet long and 2500 pounds! For some odd reason, I think they preferred the butterflies.

No tourist trip to Washington D.C. would be complete without stopping to take a gander of the White House.
Prominently displayed on the lawn of the White House are the presidential bees, maintained by Charlie B. On April 3, 2011, Norma and I had a chance to get up close and personal with Charlie's other bees which reside just a short distance from our house.
We made our way to the Lincoln Memorial which is one of my favorites.

Near the Lincoln Memorial were the various veteran memorials. We saw the National World War Two Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Women's Memorial, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Walking along the Potomac River, we saw numerous cherry trees.
The plantings of cherry trees originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan. In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or "Sakura," is an exalted flowering plant. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a potent symbol equated with the evanescence of human life and epitomizes the transformation of Japanese culture throughout the ages.
- from National Park Service - Cherry Blossom Festival

Venturing onward, we came to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.
Across the Tidal Basin, we had a view of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

We passed through the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden where we saw a meditative rabbit and an optical illusion house along with a strange spherical object. You have to see this YouTube video to really appreciate the illusion.

Our next stop was Chinatown.
In Chinatown, we dropped in where Norma works. She thanked her co-workers for their generous gift and introduced them to our guests.

Then it was off to Asian Spice for dinner. I had the Malaysian/Indonesian noodles with chicken (mee goreng), which was very tasty. We worked up quite an appetite with all the walking.

Ikuyo and Sonomi said their farewells. Tomorrow they would be in New York City and after that, Niagara Falls. Norma and I were glad they could spend so much time with us on their visit to the states.

It was a long, full day where we did a day and a half worth of activities in a single day. We slept well that night.

It was sunny and not too cold so I offered to take people kayaking. Steve and Angelika were interested. So Norma took care of our parents and Hitomi while I took Steve and Angelika out to Annapolis for the day.

The three of us launched at Truxton Heights Park on Spa Creek. Steve was in my Prijon Catalina while Angelika and I rode the Ocean Kayak Cabo tandem.

Kayaking out towards the historic area, we found it impossible to get a view. A power boat festival was going on so we were not permitted to paddle up Ego Alley. Ego Alley (named because people go there to show off their boats) is the narrow waterway that takes one right up to Main Street. It is, in my opinion, the most interesting and scenic part of the whole kayak tour.

So instead, we continued northeast, passing by the Naval Academy.

We paddled up the Severn River then as far upstream as we could on College Creek. Along the way, we passed under a few bridges, got a peek at the Academy's rowing shells, and saw Saint Anne's Cemetery, which dates back to 1692.

I let Steve try out my carbon fiber wing paddle. Not only was this his first time trying out a wing paddle, but this was also his first time in a sea kayak. He's a whitewater kayaker with a bomb-proof roll.

At the head of College Creek, we stopped for a snack.

Back out on the Severn, there were some Navy ships going to and from the Academy.
This was Angelika's first time kayaking and she did just fine. In the snapshot below, we made our way back up Spa Creek.
In Eastport, we came across a pirate ship.
Steve was using my heaviest, slowest, and cheapest paddle, yet he made my Prijon fly with bursts of speed. Below, he's paddling up Spa Creek with the Compromise Street Drawbridge behind. This is the bridge that connects historic Annapolis with Eastport.
On the opposite side of Eastport, we saw Saint Mary's Church and cemetery.
We finished our trip after about 2.75 hours, having completed an easy eight miles. I think Steve and Angelika had fun.

While Angelika, Steve, and I were out kayaking, Norma, Hazel, Hitomi, and my parents were at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center. The last (and only) time Norma and I were there was February 2, 2011.

Walking on the trails at the Center, they found a wild persimmon tree. Unlike the big Japanese persimmons, the Maryland wild persimmons are only about as big as a ping pong ball and not as tasty.

Raptors that were somehow injured, and thus unable to survive in the wild, are brought here.
Here's a lone turtle covered in aquatic vegetation. With the temperature of the Chesapeake Bay quickly dropping as we get deeper into fall, turtles are getting harder to spot.
Here's some other pics:

After Angelika, Steve, and I got done kayaking, I called up Norma who said she would meet us in Annapolis. So I drove Angelika and Steve to the restaurant in Eastport. We parked, then walked into the historic district in Annapolis. I showed them what they would have seen from the water had the power boat festival not been going on. They also got a quick peek at the Maryland State House and Saint Anne's Episcopal Church at the west end of Main Street in Church Circle. I would have loved to have showed them more of Annapolis but we had dinner reservations.
Walking to Easton, we crossed the Compromise Street Bridge over Spa Creek. This gave us a different view of what we saw from the water. There were lots of expensive boats and one stand up paddleboarder that was moving like he was training for a race.
All of us met at the Rockfish in Easton. The food was good and the service was not so good. Dad ate the seaweed salad and fried oysters.

Back at the house, Hitomi gave Norma and me her wedding gift. It was a miniature kimono. A few months ago, that might have fit Harlem. She gave out lots of other gifts, not just to Norma and me but to everyone in the house. She is a very generous person.

Hazel headed out that morning while Norma led the rest of us on a little adventure.

One of Norma's favorite places in the whole world is Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. She has been there several times but I have never been. So today she took my parents, Angelika, Hitomi, Steve, and me to visit.

We started in the cafeteria. Their food is good but a little expensive. I suppose everything seemed expensive after spending a few days in Garrett County.

Longwood Gardens is a really big place with a lot of history.
The land had been inhabited by the native Lenni Lenape tribe who hunted, fished, and farmed the productive wilderness. In 1700, a Quaker family named Peirce purchased the property from William Penn and soon established a working farm. Joshua and Samuel Peirce began planting an arboretum on the farm in 1798. The farm was purchased in 1906 by Pierre du Pont so he could preserve the trees, and from 1907 until the 1930s, Mr. du Pont created most of what is enjoyed today. In 1946, the Gardens were turned over to a foundation set up by Mr. du Pont.
- from The Story of Longwood (a broken link as of 2023)

In this part of the country, the name du Pont is tied to many things. Norma and I learned that during our October 28-30, 2011 trip to the Brandywine Valley area. If it wasn't for the du Ponts, the area would not be nearly as interesting.

Much of our time was spent in the conservatory. Clark has one of these but his is a little smaller.

On the way home, we drove over the Susquehanna River and then stopped in Havre de Grace for dinner. This quaint little town was incorporated in 1785.
In 1789, the town was a candidate for the honor of being named capital of the United States.
- from Wikipedia - Havre de Grace

After a bit of walking in the town, we stopped at the Tidewater Grille for dinner. Steve and I had Chesapeake chicken, which is my favorite local dish. I showed him a picture on the wall of what our kayaking view of historic Annapolis should have been if it wasn't for the power boat festival. He seemed impressed.
This was our last night to see Steve for awhile. His plane would leave tomorrow and he planned to explore some of Baltimore on his own in the morning before leaving. So we said farewell and wished him the best.

I took my parents to the airport and wished them a safe trip home. I am so glad they were able to come out and spend a week with Norma, me, and all our friends. After dropping them off, I went to work.

Norma, Hitomi, and Angelika spent time working her garden that morning. Here's Norma pointing to her critter trap which caught two groundhogs this year and one last year. All were released unharmed, a few miles away.
Norma explains the finer points of Howard County gardening to Angelika.
Norma pulled some short, stubby carrots.

Steve wanted to see an older, residential area so I directed him to Fells Point in Baltimore. This neighborhood was established in 1763. He saw a house all ready for Halloween.

Norma, Angelika, and Hitomi also ended up heading to Baltimore, spending some time at the Inner Harbor, Little Italy, and Fells Point.

Looking at the Inner Harbor from the east, one can see the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse and the Pier Six Pavillion. The latter is where I saw Weird "Al" Yankovic in concert.

Back at the house, Hitomi gave a little origami lesson to Angelika.

Then, Hitomi led the dinner-making activities. She did it Japanese-style, where presentation and color are very important. It was delicious and healthy.
We ended the evening by playing Blokus, my favorite game. This was Hitomi's first time playing and Angelika's second but they both did very well. Had everyone else not been drinking, I might not have won so easily.

I said my farewells to Hitomi and Angelika. It was great having them over for a visit. I really like Hitomi's energy and Angelika's enthusiasm.

I headed out to do volunteer work with my Marine Corps League trash cleanup.

Hitomi flew out of Dulles early while Angelika's flight didn't leave until later. To kill time, Norma took her to Great Falls, Virginia, which was only 22 minutes away.

Norma and I got lots of nice wedding cards which we read that night. We asked people not to buy wedding gifts. Instead, their presence was our present (I plagarized this from Mike and he from someone else). But if they wanted to make a donation on our behalf, we suggested the following charities, all of which at least one of us is involved with.

Capital Area Food Bank

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Doctors without Borders

Friends of Jug Bay

Howard County Marine Corps League Scholarship Fund

Carlos Rosario Educational Foundation

Still, we did receive some gifts. Much of the monetary gifts was donated to the above in equal amounts.

After having guests for the last 14 days, our house was once again empty (except for us and Asha). It certainly seemed strange without people to entertain. But it was also nice being alone.

These two weeks have been some of the busiest and happiest of my life. The wedding was a big success and folks really seemed to have enjoyed seeing us and being there to share in our big life event. As much as I would like to say that this was purely a joint effort, the fact of the matter is that Norma did a vast majority of the planning. More often than not, I just helped out as best I could.

While I would love to do this all again in the future, I am quite certain I will not be getting married again.

Three weeks after our wedding, Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast, dropping tons of precipitation. At the farm, where we had our wedding, there was two feet of snow. In Savage, the Little Patuxent River, which looked relatively calm on October 8, turned into viscious whitewater on October 30.
So despite things being a little cold on the wedding day, it could have been much worse.

We went on a honeymoon several weeks later. See December 28, 2012 to January 7, 2013.