Family Update – 15 Aug 07

This past weekend was very busy as we traveled to Illinois and attended my cousin Paul’s wedding.  Early Friday morning we caught a plane to Chicago’s O’Hare airport (via Cincinnati).  We arrived in Chicago at 0915 on Friday, rented a car and proceeded to drive the 190 miles to Galesburg, Illinois, for the wedding. 

Upon arrival in Chicago, I got a voicemail from my parents stating that their flight from Burlington, VT, had been cancelled and that they were going to have to drive 3-4 hours to Albany, NY, and catch a flight from there through Charlotte, NC, and arrive in Chicago late in the evening.  This meant that they would not arrive at the hotel until 2AM!  Aside from being a monumental hassle, this was a real disappointment as they would miss the rehearsal dinner Friday night.

When I was about an hour from our destination, I was able to contact my brother Chris and his wife Jen who were driving from their home in Dayton, Ohio.  They were due to arrive in Galesburg about the same time as us.  I also contacted my brother Eric and his wife Kathy and my brother Andy and his girlfriend Pam who were traveling together and had landed at O’Hare at about 1100.   In the course of talking to them on the cell phone, they blew a tire on their rental (a Jeep Laredo) and had to stop quickly and replace the tire!

After arriving in Galesburg and checking into our hotel, we met up with Chris & Jen, Eric & Kathy and Andy & Pam.  We also ran into my Uncle Paul and Aunt Nancy who were also staying at the hotel (parents of the groom), and my cousin Paul (the groom).  We proceeded to the rehearsal dinner at about 1800 and had a fantastic dinner, albeit without my parents.  After dinner we returned to the hotel and went swimming and then stayed up late chatting with the groom (Paul) in Kathy and Eric’s room.  It was great seeing him as I had not seen him in years.

On Saturday morning, I learned that my parents didn’t arrive at the hotel until 0600!!  After arriving in Chicago later than planned, they found out that their luggage had not made it…..to add insult to injury, after waiting a long time for a courtesy shuttle, they found out that their rental car company had closed.  So, they had to pick another rental car company and stat driving at about 0200.  Fortunately, the wedding was at 1530 and we had some clothes to loan to my Mom and Dad so that they would have something to wear to the wedding.  As of last night, my parents had returned to Vermont and had still not received their luggage! 

Despite it all, it was an absolutely wonderful wedding and cousin Paul has found a wonderful woman that he now calls his wife.  It was good to be with family, although we missed my brother Scott and his wife Susan who were unable to attend.  The ceremony was flawless and memorable, and the reception was great as well.  The kids enjoyed dancing the night away after dinner.  I have added the pictures from the trip/wedding in our August 2007 photo album.  YOu can get there by clicking on the picture below: