This Is For You Lucy. Congratulations!

Dear Lucy,

This is for you.
Your wedding was lovely and you were beautiful, as always, except more so, if possible.
Mr. Hawthorne and I love you.
We always have..
We wish many, many years of happiness for you and Robert.

Sincerely,
A & M

Mr. Hawthorne and I arrived at the 6 PM wedding at 5:59 PM.
Early for Mr. H.

And remember, I had gone out to the truck earlier to turn on the AC due to 103-degree weather and all the smoke.
As soon as I opened the door, I caught the smell.
Alcohol.
Not good.
Mr. H. had left a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chardonnay (Nathanson Creek - Both nice wines and at a good price.) in his car and the red had exploded. Two-thirds of the bottle had pooled into his leather seats. The wine was in the backseat and I found the popped cork in the front. The cork on the white was halfway out.
Can you just imagine if one of us had been driving the car and the cork flew out?

I suggested taking my truck because of the odor that couldn't even be cleaned up sufficiently nor fe-breezed out.

Oh, and Daughter Hawthorne, remember when I mentioned what Aunt SandyLoo said about "seeing all the flavors" and you retorted with "Of course. I can smell colors. " Then you stuck your nose up in the air, sniffing mightily and haughtily, and announced, " And this smells like burnt sienna." Well, my question is, "Can you color the smells?

And what color would Daddy's wine-tainted truck be?

Oh, goodness.
I've rambled and digressed.
And I really shouldn't be talking about alcohol and everything.

So, let's just go back to the above picture.

The ol' man and me get to the church at the very last minute, literally.
So, lucky for us, we're in the very last pew.

To my pew across are all of Robert's Marine homies.
If you click on the pic to enlarge and check out the Marine at the end,
notice he's holding a plastic container.
These guys were passing down one drink container, filled with a colored fluid,
each taking a few sips.
Look at these guys.
Collars up to their chins.
Jackets. Leather. Swords.
I never saw the first one sweat.
Even at the reception.
Where it was HOT.

Here's Beautiful Lucy and her father coming down the aisle.

And that's my beautiful Daughter Hawthorne in the middle.

And Lucy, may I just say, you did a great job with the bridesmaids' dresses.
I think a lot of brides pick out butt fugly dresses so as to put the focus on them (the brides),
like where the hell is the focus going to be anyway?

You, dear, exude confidence and goodness.
You let them wear pretty dresses.
You knew you were da bomb!

And ... Heeeeerrrrres the handoff.
GodSpeed, Lucy and Robert.


Mr. Hawthorne preferred this crop.

Sometimes he sees things I don't.
And verse vica.

You can look at this picture and know exactly what's going on:
There's the wonderful GROOMed (Sorry, my bad.) Marine soon-to-be husband.
The Daddy in the middle.
The bittersweet moment, when DaddyLucy, who, right now, is probably thinking of the day and the moment when Little Lucy was born, and is now being jerked into the HERE and NOW.
And the exquisitely beautiful bride.
Lucy, you showed such courage, confidence, and poise.
I applaud you.

Here are the beautiful bridesmaids..
Daughter Hawthorne is third from right.

That's Mr. Hawthorne at the end in the pink.
He's not scared to show his femine side.
Bravo, DH.
(OH, and DH is not for Dear Husband. Use your imagination.)

I really liked this picture.

Whew!

Daughter Hawthorne.
Middle Maid.

I don't know who the guy is picking his nose.

Happy Mother of the Bride.

Couple coming under the sword arch.

Damn, pesky wedding photog kept coming in between me and my shots.
Get OUTTA my WAY!!!!!

Now, I really, really like this shot.

Take a deep breath, Loosey Goosey.

Doesn't Lucy have a pretty back?
Isn't her veil pretty?

That's Daughter Hawthorne with her head squicked in to Lucy's right.

Lucy and her Mommie share a moment.

And another one.

Daughter Hawthorne and Mr. Hawthorne.

Mama and Daddy Lucy.

Marines, some random guy, and a couple of cute chicks.
OMG, I just realized I'm a uniform whore.

Daddy Lucy, upon arriving at the reception site, awaiting the arrival of Lucy and Robert, and probably thinking, "Geeze Loouuiiisssse. WTF is this gonna cost me after it's all over?"

Finally they're here.
I heard the limo had neither AC nor radio.
Bummer.

Lucy, you were positively RADIANT!

Controlled chaos.

The wedding party enters.

Man, these chicks know how to make an entrance.

My beautifuldaughter.

Jesse, Matron of Honor, the bride's sister.

And the beautiful couple.
Lucy and Robert.

First Dance.

Loosey Goosey, you have a lovely back.

You look so very happy.
And the best thing is ...

... you are so very happy!

Daughter Hawthorne and Sam.

Maid of Honor, Sarah.

Lane and Sarah.

BeautifulBrideLucy and Mr. Hawthorne.
Daughter Hawthorne gave him that shit and tie.

Heh. I meant to say that shirt and tie, but I missed a letter.

Oh, and check out Lucy's lovely gown she changed into.
I think she said it was $38.
Good going, Luce.
You still look like a million.

Oh, God.
I love a two-fisted-beer-drinkin'-bride-bitch!

The happy couple during the toasts.

Lucy cutting the cake.
Look out, folks!

Lucy and Daddy.

I love you Daddy.

OK, dammit. Now I'm crying all over again.

Here's Daughter Hawthorne, Sam, and some random drunk woman who doesn't look fat at all in person, but this picture just sucks eggs and other things.
That's not skin and body in front of her.
It's SHIRT hanging down.
I promise.
I have no idea who she was, but I do know she was a lovely person.

This picture REALLY SUX.