Back from family wedding in Michigan; back to the humidity and heat. The air was so crisp there with the coolness of fall in the air and the trees changing bright colors of yellow and red..…memories of beautiful North Carolina and the east coast. Climate is only one of the reasons NC tops our list of retirement locations at this point. Soon, I hope, soon. But I digress.

Nephew’s wedding was beautiful and so much fun! This nephew stayed with me for a couple of months here in H-town while doing his internship at a local tv station back two summers ago. His new girlfriend (aka the bride) came to stay for a few days and we loved her the minute we met her. Rehearsal dinner on a private, chartered riverboat, outdoor wedding down a stone-stepped hill in cool, fall climate with gorgeous sunset and a reception that was complete with seated dinner, auctioning off the bride and groom, dollar dances and a DJ playing a selection of music that kept many (all ages) on the dance floor all evening. We certainly did our share of dancing – made me realize how long it’s been since my last foray onto a dance floor. The toasts and speeches, especially the oldest nephew’s (in the role of best man), kept us all laughing, especially as he toasted "donkey" aka the bride (family inside joke). But then he has always been a laugh a minute kinda guy anyway. My “favorite niece,” a role she claimed at eleven, was a bridesmaid and made sure we had enough alone time for me to get to know her current squeeze; this one could go the distance. She’s hoping to be the next bride. The best part of this last three days, of course, was being surrounded by loving family the entire time. I often think I have the best nieces and nephews anywhere and they proved it again over the three days we were there. I KNOW I have the best brother- and sister-in-law. Nieces and nephews in that group total five and with four spouses make nine. Not only is each one beautiful, smart, well-mannered, easy-going, and incredibly fun to be with but they all get along with each other and have such a good time together. Amazing. Two weeks together (with kids) at the beach house on NC Outer Banks this summer proved that again. Much happiness to the new couple, currently honeymooning on the beaches of Hawaii.