WEDDING DAY, MINUS TWO

Thursday before the big day was mostly a hang out or get last-minute-things-done-day for everyone. For me, I enjoyed life by the pool.

Jim IV, Laurie, Jay, Annie, and I stayed in a house that backed up to a beautiful golf course. Mike's company owns four of these all in a row. He had offered one to us before but we couldn't use it because we had Rufus with us, but this time we did. Now that I've been inside one of them, I think we'll leave Rufus at home so we can enjoy this luxury again.

The house has three bedrooms, two baths, roomy top-of-the-line kitchen, stocked with food, then a dining area, overlooking the large living room. The living room and master suite had a great view of the golf course. Laurie was in seventh heaven. She borrowed some clubs from Mike and played every morning on the small pitch and putt course that was right next to our house. One morning we walked down the street to the club house and had breakfast out by the pool. I felt very pampered.

Another new experience for me was the heavenly fragrance that was enveloping all of Phoenix at the time. The citrus trees were in bloom all over the city, and the wonderful scent followed us everywhere. Also, the refrigerator at our house was stocked with fresh picked oranges that were probably the sweetest, most delicious I have ever had.

Because the wedding was held outside, this very pleasant aroma drifted over us during the service and added a special ambiance.

The only picture I have for this day is one of the three cousins together again at last:

DANNY, MICHAEL, JAY