On Friday, October 24 I headed with my friend and neighbor, Jooles to meet Michael, Carol, John, Charles, and Thom for a dhow dinner cruise out in the Gulf.

Michael on the top deck

Charles and Carol relaxing on the top deck

Thom and Jooles

It was perfect weather for being out on the water and a very enjoyable evening with food that was prepared on board.

heading along the dock to the dhow

This is a smaller dhow, but sort of what we looked like on the water with the city in the background.

sunsetting over the city

Sunset in a hazy sky

The night time skyline of Kuwait City.

This was another event organized by the AWARE Center. It was a wonderful way to spend the evening.

MOUNTAIN TOP!

OCTOBER 4-12

I left Kuwait on a night flight and headed through Abu Dhabi (for 7+ hours) to Rome (3 hours) and on to Boston. Adrianne and Scott picked me up and we headed to Littleton, MA. I was so warmly and graciously welcomed by Janet and Karl Anderson (Scott’s parents) into their home. We chatted for a while and then headed to bed. The next day we ran errands. On Tuesday, Adrianne, Scott, and I drove

fall colors in New England

out to western MA

Scott and Adrianne in Montague, MA

Out the window of the Book Mill

and saw NMH (Northfield Mount Herman), the boarding school that Scott attended for high school and Deerfield, where his brother Andrew attended. It was a gorgeous day!

Northfield Mount Hermon

Wednesday was spa day for the girls. We went to Aveda for hair, mani and pedis and then on Thursday we made the flower run to Trader Joe’s in time enough to meet Grammy for help with putting them in the Mason jar vases.

The flowers

People started arriving with Mom and Dad in the early morning, then Emily and Ed, Brett and Dean and a little later, David (Scott’s brother), whom Andrew and Scott went to pick up and then continued on to the bachelor party. Adrianne and I headed in to pick Parker up and deliver him to F1 Boston, a go-cart track.

all lined up and ready to GO!

Pre-race stat list

The fathers and brothers were all part of this and it looked like a lot of fun. Then it was home and to bed.

We started packing and preparing for the move over to Friendly Crossways on Friday. Rehearsal was first priority and we ran through it twice,

rehearsal

then got to the business of setting up and settling in. We had a lovely dinner with meaningful toasts and laughter. That was followed with a bonfire and s’mores.

Blood moon

Saturday was overcast and rained softly most of the morning. Last minute errands were run and then it was time to get ready for the big event. The sky cleared as we got ready and then it was time to begin. The ceremony was uniquely Scott and Adrianne with many sentimental touches. Adrianne hugged all three of her parents, including her dad who was presiding over the ceremony. It choked him up and I love that grandparents who had died had a chair with their photo on each side in the family row up front. It was such a joy to be witness to the official joining of these two lives and families.

heading for the walk down the aisle

the wedding party

Laughter always bodes well

The family

Sunday started very early to take Parker to the airport for his return, then back

Heavenly

for brunch with all the families and those who stayed at the hostel. Suddenly it was time to leave for my return to Kuwait. A 36 hour odyssey ended with my memories fully installed. Happy, happy day.

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