A Bit About Mark Jrs'. Wedding, and Some Pictures -

On July 17, 2009, my grandson Mark Kevin ,Jr., was married to Lauren Keenan.

They have been dating for a long time five or six years at the least, and became

engaged last year sometime. Mark and I were invited to visit their new condo

they had purchased in April, and met her parents there. We had a lovely

barbecue. Laurens parents are very out going and easy going people. They

are very interested in their children and one grandchild so far, and like Mark Jr.

very much. I think this is a testament to Mark and Gloria for raising their

son to be a very loving and social man.

We, Mark, Billy and I were invited to the wedding rehearsal dinner and

the wedding, and we spent two nights in the Hotel Hilton in Rye, NY. It is

about and hour and a half drive from here, but they wanted us not to have

to drive back late at night, and it was fun to get away for a few days.

The rehearsal was held outdoors, as the wedding was to be in gazebo

on the grounds. After the rehearsal was over, which was fun as the

bride and groom wore Mickey Mouse ears and everyone was in a lighthearted

frame of mind and happy for the couple, we went up to a room where

there were tables set up for those present and the three of us sat with the

Mom and Dad of the bride, and they made us feel right at home. Billy

met a friend of the family there, and they became good friends, have a lot

of common interests. Mark took a lot of pictures of the wedding rehearsal

and dinner. We enjoyed a variety of foods, too many to mention, but it

was all good, and topped of with some kind of delicious chocolate cake.

That always indicates a good time, and good taste to me.

We went to our rooms about 11:30 PM, and parties went on all over the place,

Billy came back to the room in the wee hours about 5:30 AM I think, and I

wasn't worried as Mark and I were sleeping. Best way to be I think. The

next morning we had breakfast at the Hilton Restaurant in the hotel, and

I have written about that costing so much, so I will never forget it.

We had adjoining rooms with the groom and the best man, never thought

that much about it, but about noon on the day of the wedding, when they had

to check out, they came in and brought their tuxes and belongings and put

them in our closet. They were going to the pool and would be back to get

dressed before the wedding. I began to think, we are going to be five

people all trying to get dressed in one space, and one bathroom, but they

did come up an hour earlier than we needed to go, because they were going

to take wedding pictures before the ceremony outside. I think that is when the

change was made to have the wedding inside, as clouds were forming

and bugs were about.

All went well and the wedding was supposed to be at 6:15, and we all went

down and went into the wedding room they had rather hastily set up. It was

very beautifully decorated with all kinds of flowers, and I was happy it was

inside, in the air conditioning. The bride was fashionably late, by a few minutes only.

They had a Friar do the ceremony and he was quite entertaining with

little exchanges with the bride and groom and the audience. There

were no special vows written, just the simple I dos and it was over

very quickly, then outside they went for more wedding pictures. I think

the first pictures were actually taken of the bride and groom getting

ready, have not seen those yet, but there is a place on line that lets you

have a peek and they are lovely.

Then we all went into the Grand Ballroom for the wedding reception. We

were sitting next to the brides parents, and Mark's daughter's Pamela

and Kimberly and their partners were with me and Billy and Mark. Everyone

was dancing and I danced the first dance with my son, he was very sad

that his wife, Gloria, who wanted to see this wedding was not there, we all

were, but I think she was looking down at the whole party and smiling on

the happy couple.

There was a five course meal that took from seven to 10 or

more to eat mostly because they brought it all out so far apart

but it was good food and we enjoyed it. The music was very

loud, but those dancing didn't seem to mind. Billy danced his head off as did Pamela. I know those two, and Mike of course, had a great time.

We finally went up to our room after saying goodnight to

everyone, about2:00 Am I think. We were supposed to go to a

breakfast the next morning and Mark went by himself, as I

was too tired, and had to do the packing up. Billy slept until

the last minute. We had brought some snacks so it did him until we got home.

I got to say goodbye to the groom when he came into pick up his tux bag and his baggage

from the night before. He was extremely happy and I am sure he will be a very happily

married man.

Mark is so pleased that his son found such a lovely family to belong to , it makes him feel

good about a lot of things.

Mark Jr. sent his dad some of the pictures from their honeymoon and I am going to put a

couple up here with his permission, I spoke to him tonight and you can hear his happiness

over the phone.

Another one of my thirteen grandchildren married. I am sure in the future more weddings

will come, Billy will be going to live with his fiancé's family and he says he won't get married

for a year or two, at least that is what he says now. I now have four more grand

daughters that are unmarried, so expect the family to keep on loving and growing.