“Convergence”

Jenny & Steve’s wedding is in two days. Beginning today, friends and family from all over the country are converging on Burlington and Essex Junction, Vermont, to be witnesses to their love for, and their commitment to, each other. (I’m the father-of-the-bride-to-be, so cut me some slack if I’m “waxing poetic” or sounding mushy and sentimental.)

I think it’s cool to realize that for events like this, all the individual (and “decentralized”) planning is coordinated to be in the same place at the same time. Arrival and departure dates and times may differ, but everyone’s plans were made to be in Essex Junction, VT this Sunday at 5 p.m.

Okay, fine. If you want me to get all technical and precise, this is where we all need to be on Sunday, May 11, 2014 at 5 p.m. local time (21:00 GMT): 44 30 05.95 N, 73 04 39.65 W.
Sure; I’ll wait while you
• “Google earth” — http://www.google.com/earth/ — or
• “Google Maps” — http://www.google.com/maps/place/@44.5016528,-73.0776806,15z
those coordinates…

Jenny moved to Boston seven years ago this month. The first “best friend” she made was Judy. Clare realized through the planning and travel arrangements that Judy and her husband Nathan would be on the same flight that we would take from LaGuardia airport in New York to Burlington. Clare & Judy had each other’s phone numbers, so we were able to meet up with them in the terminal before boarding a bus that would take us across the big “parking lot” to our awaiting CRJ700. So here are Judy, Clare and Nathan boarding our flight from New York to Burlington. The 4-person “selfie”? Judy got that one in the back of the shuttle bus and sent it to Jenny! Thanks, Judy! And thank you Judy and Nathan for being friends to Jenny and Grace, and to Clare and me, too!

For those of you keeping score at home, Judy and Nathan came from Florida, where they now live and work. Jenny’s cousin Sarah came from Denver. Many relatives came from Michigan and Ohio. Many friends and relatives came from the Boston area. And a couple of dear friends — Raymond & Jeanne — also came from Carbondale. Oh, and Jenny did have a friend and former roommate who is originally from Vermont. She probably wins the prize for coming the *shortest* distance! But Steve has relatives coming from California and I suspect they win the prize for coming the *longest* distance!

1 year ago (“Before it opens…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-05-09
2 years ago (“Fowl weather”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-05-09
3 years ago (“Mother’s Day tulips”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-05-09

[MaryBeth Dailey]

I had never put this into words so well as you, Thom. But yes. Convergence indeed. It is what made me nervous at my wedding. All that ENERGY that is focused and coming. (In that case, to my brand new home...not even quite finished...that is where we got married) It sort of freaked me out that I was responsible for all of it. Have a great wedding weekend and you can wax poetic about your daughter any time

[Thom Mitchell]

@espyetta Aww, thanks so much, MaryBeth, for your kind words. Being the parent of the bride (or groom, I suppose) is a completely new experience! It's "bittersweet," in a way, I suppose, but much more sweet than bitter!

[Rick Schies]

Well Thom, it is going to be a busy couple of days, and as Father of the Bride, you have every right to get sentimental and all that stuff. It's a precious moment, enjoy the beauty of the occasion