Monday June 22, 1987

Dearest Johnny; Roy & Patrice; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura & Brett; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:

It's Monday afternoon and we haven't been home very long but I am going to hurry with this letter to see if I can get it mailed!!!! I'll write later in the letter to explain why we are just now getting home.

THE BIG NEWS FOR THIS WEEK IS THE WEDDING!!!!! It would be impossible to describe it in words but when we get some of our pictures back then Johnny, you will be able to visualize it. It was such a special, special occasion for our family to all be together except for Claire & Johnny and the O'Donoghues did everything they could possibly do to make it something we will never forget. Now that we are home it seems like a dream!!!!

The Woolleys arrived in New York on Thursday and Ann did some shopping and then they went to dinner and a play - they said it was WONDERFUL!!!! They picked us up on the Friday afternoon - our plane was delayed for an hour at the Salt Lake airport while they checked some "suspicious luggage" - they told us that all the passengers would have to leave the plane and identify their own luggage but as it turned out they "zeroed" in on a foreigner who was sitting right in front of us and they kept him off the plane for a long, long time but they finally let him back on. Anyway, Ann & Ron had to wait for awhile but it turned out okay. We had a fun flight and when we arrived in Connecticut it was beautiful and we didn't have any trouble finding Patrice's Mom's home.

Almost from the time we arrived we were eating the most delicious food - Ann & Jean both made the comment that they didn't know they would be such gourmet cooks. Daddy & I stayed with Patrice's neighbors, the Thomases, and they are the loveliest people and their backyard porch looked right out onto the O'Donoghues back yard. I wish I could describe the "tents" they had in the yard- they had told us they would have tents but we had no idea they would be anything like they were. They had strung those tiny white lights all around inside of the tents and then filled the ceilings with helium filled white balloons. They had the large circular tables set up with beautiful cloths on them. For the "Family Dinner" on Friday night we had the most delicious shrimp, cheeses and other things while we waited for the Weinerts to get there. They came about 8 o'clock and then Suzie served fabulous lasagna with French breads and for dessert, Mrs. Thomas had made a very special frozen strawberry pie (I got the recipe if any of you want it). We all enjoyed it so much and after that Roy & Patrice started unwrapping some of their gifts while the Woolleys drove to White Plains, New York to pick up Bob. They didn't bring him back until about 11:30 and everyone was so "zonked" that we didn't visit very long!!!!! The Woolleys, Weinerts and Bob all drove to the Ramada Inn and made plans for the next day to be a day of sight-seeing in New York City.

Saturday while they saw the sights, Daddy and I just enjoyed ourselves visiting with friends of the O'Donoghues who had come to help with the wedding - Suzie had friends from Pennsylvania and also North Carolina besides some of her neighbors. It was fun to become acquainted with Patrice's sisters too - Joan and Elizabeth. We were so impressed with how well organized everything was and their home was like a beehive, buzzing with all kinds of activities. I love to think back on their basement - it was filled with the most beautiful flowers - some were wild sweetpeas they had gathered from the hillside earlier that morning and then the others they had bought at a big flower market. Suzie was making all kinds of beautiful arrangements all morning while Joan & Elizabeth cut up vegetables, etc.

They had white balloons all along the street leading to their home as well as on the street marker. Their backyard was just beautiful with a large white trellis decorated with the sweetpeas and daisies where Roy & Patrice stood as they were married. In the very back of their yard they have a patio with a fireplace, etc. and they had those paper sack candle markers all around that and then later on in evening the guests danced there. They had beautiful stereo music playing all the time. They were married by a justice of the Peace who was a family friend and they walked up to the trellis to some music played by the harpist and flutist. That really added to the elegance of the wedding and they played until late in the evening. Patrice was just beautiful in a white lace mid-calf dress and Roy was so handsome in a white dinner jacket with maroon cumberbund and tie, etc. Patrice wore a fresh flower "tiara" in her hair.

Suzie had told me that the people catering the food wouldn't allow anyone else in the kitchen so it was really fun to "stay away". I was constantly surprised to see them bringing out such special, special hors doeurves (two back women did the catering but I'm sure Suzie did a lot of preparation). Ann & Jean & I kept talking about how good everything was. About 9 o'clock they served dinner - ham, beef, chicken, spinach salad, pasta salad etc. etc.!!!! Then Patrice cut the wedding cake which was three tiered and it was very, very good - a carrot cake and I believe one of the layers was hazel nut!!!!

We were so thrilled to see so many of their friends - many of whom we had met at Roy's Brown graduation. What special friends to come from far away places to honor them!!!! Robert Tucker came clear from Little Rock and then some of our close friends, Kevin and Barbara Sondrup, live close by Darien so they came too. They Woolleys, Weinerts, Bob and Daddy & I left the "party" about 11 o'clock but we could hear that it went on for awhile after that. We just loved everything and we think Suzie is a mighty capable person to have put on such a beautiful and enjoyable wedding that lasted for two days!!!!

Sunday morning Bob decided to not go into New York with the rest of us - he had to go to another airport anyway so he got a cab from the Ramada. The Woolleys and Weinerts and Daddy & I went to the Statue of Liberty and that was such a special, special treat!!! We walked all around it, having taken the ferry over to it, but we decided against walking up 392 steps to the top. We also went to Wall Street and saw the stock exchange building and then to a flea market and had a wonderful, wonderful time.

NOW FOR THE BIG NEWS!!!!! I said from the very beginning that our plane left at 4:14 (the Weinerts didn't leave until 6:00) so we planned very carefully to be at the airport at 3:00 to give us plenty of time. As we parked in front of the airport to get our luggage out to get checked, Daddy got our his ticket and with a "gasp" he said, "our plane leaves at 3:00 from New York and 4:14 from Chicago"!!! There was dead silence in the car for a few minutes and then Daddy & Ron just flew to try to see if by chance it had been delayed for some reason. To make a long, long, long story short - WE MISSED OUR PLANE - and we all had non-refundable tickets. Sometimes when we're all together we'll have to give you all details but I don't have time now to write it all down. One of the things that caused us a lot of concern was that the policeman made Ann move the car from the loading area and she was gone for almost 45 minutes and we were all sick that she was "lost" on the freeway. As it turned out she had parked in the parking lot and it took her a long time to get back with us. We ended up driving to Newark, New Jersey and took a flight out from there this morning - 6 o'clock their time - but we were really pleased that they didn't make us pay for more tickets - we had all envisioned $300 tickets for each of us. We stayed in the Holiday Inn right close to the airport. Ann & Ron & Daddy were VERY GOOD SPORTS about the whole thing - I KNOW it was my fault and I have felt really bad but there was absolutely nothing we can do about it.

Johnny - we loved your letter last week and also the one that was here when we got home today (about your new calling as a zone leader). We keep waiting to hear your response about the class schedule we arranged for you - Ha!!!! We thought sure you would "fire" a letter back to us FAST about that. We all can hardly wait for July 23rd - it will be simply wonderful to have you home again - I have never known a longer two years!!!!

Claire - we missed you!!!! We loved the pictures of your trip to Alabama - the children look like they really love the water and we're so thrilled you could all go!!! It was good to see the pictures of Chris and Wayne too. Bob surely looks good and we decided the week on the beach was just what he needed!!!

There's probably more to write but I am going to have to quite to get this in the mail. The Roy Mellors will be at a new address for this letter - they leave the East this week!!! We love each one of you so very much and we're so proud of you - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know if we can help!!!
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