Advertisement
Published: September 30th 2006
Edit Blog Post
It’s been awhile since my travel blog has been updated. The reason for that is quite simple: the travelblog requires traveling, and there hasn't been enough of that.
Work has been the culprit, largely keeping me in Southern California these last three months. I did manage to venture out though in August for my annual houseboats trip to Lake Mead, Nevada. In addition, I just returned from a trip to the South, specifically North Carolina, for a friend’s wedding.
This was year #11 for me as a volunteer leader for Calvary Community Church’s high school houseboat camp at Lake Mead (1 hour east of Las Vegas). This has traditionally been a great week for students to develop stronger friendships with leaders and other students, and seek a deeper relationship with their Creator. This year was no exception. God is faithful.
It's always a tiring week but a rewarding one. Tiring? Well, starting the camp with an all-nighter zaps a bit of the energy level (all night bus ride where sleep really isn't an option). Plus, 150 students on a lake takes a bit of supervision. But it's all worth it. I love being able to hang out and
get to know the students better, and help encourage them in their walks with God.
Last weekend I headed to North Carolina to attend Jonathan & Miranda’s wedding. Jonathan is a good friend who was previously a volunteer leader for the high school group at Calvary Community Church before jumping across the Pacific Ocean to be a missionary in East Asia. He met his wife at a Campus Crusade conference in Colorado last year, and did the long distance dating thing…and I mean really long distance: he in East Asia, she in Argentina. On September 23, 2006, they were married in Whiteville, North Carolina. Why Whiteville? Miranda grew up there and her family still resides in this small town of 5,000. Where is it? It’s about 45 minutes west of Wilmington, North Carolina. Where’s that? It’s a city on the Atlantic Ocean in southeast North Carolina…I think.
I didn’t make this trip alone. Matt, Mike, Heather, Rachel and I went to North Carolina together. It was a full day adventure that began at 4:15 a.m. when we drove to the Burbank airport. Our $221 round-trip airline tickets were cheap, but Delta Airlines didn’t want to make it easy
Cotton picking
In a cotton field in North Carolina. for us (especially on the return trip!). We flew from Burbank to Salt Lake City (Utah) to Atlanta (Georgia) to Charlotte (North Carolina). We met up with J.D., Pam (his mom), and a friend of Miranda’s from Argentina at the Charlotte airport, and drove the final 3 ½ hours to Whiteville…
into a new world…
a world that consisted of large expanses of trees occasionally broken by cotton fields or buildings, a humidity level that kept things toasty, the deafening sound of insects, the southern drawl and great hospitality of its people, sweet tea, boiled peanuts, fried everything, and a slower pace of life. This wasn’t Los Angeles. Our waking hours were pushed back due to the time change. Getting up around 11:00 regularly and going to bed at 2:00 a.m. This was our life in North Carolina. I had been to some areas of the south but this was my first experience in North Carolina. I liked it.
After waking up at 11:30 on Friday, we met up with Jonathan & Eric (best man who arrived from East Asia a couple of days before us) to pick up our tuxes and eat lunch at Char Co
The Guys
J.D., Matt, Eric, Jonathan, Mike Fucci, and me at the wedding rehearsal. Burgers & Dogs, a little fast food restaurant connected to a gas station on the outskirts of Whiteville. The first thing that stood out about this restaurant was the huge sign inside listing the 10 Commandments - not the kind of thing you see in California. The food itself was fairly basic. I got myself a chili cheeseburger and sweet tea. You know, I can’t say I like sweet tea but I just had to have it while here.
That afternoon (what was it? 5:00?) we had a wedding rehearsal at First Baptist Church, a traditional church situated on a nice street with large colonial houses. The rehearsal was fairly uneventful but I found it amusing comparing the demeanor of the groomsmen with the remainder of the wedding party and guests. While the groomsmen spent much of the rehearsal laughing and being a bit mischievous, the rest of the wedding party and guests seemed quite reserved and proper. Regardless of the reasons, it was obvious that the California boys stood out. Granted, we didn't have to worry about much. Let’s face it. The role of a groomsmen is an easy one. All we have to do during the ceremony
The Church
First Baptish Church in Whiteville where the wedding took place. is follow the leader (the groom) into the sanctuary, stand still while observing the proceedings up front, and walk out escorting a bridesmaid. Simple. Or is it? No, it is. It’s a job well done if you just don’t cause any distractions during the ceremony. The focus needs to remain up front on the bride & groom. It's their moment.
What came after the rehearsal? The rehearsal dinner. This took place at Madison House, an old colonial house that is currently a bed & breakfast. It was nice to interact with some of the Whiteville people during the dinner and hear their comments and stories about the bride following the meal. Of course, a few of us got to share a little about the groom too.
That brings us to the main event…
the trip to Walmart! I mean, the wedding! On a side note, this town really DOES seem to revolve around Walmart. The store is huge. It’s like a Target with a supermarket, drug store, fast food restaurant, and beauty salon attached. But I wasn’t in North Carolina to visit a Walmart (although that didn’t stop us from going 2, or was it 3 times?).
Bride & Groom
Miranda & Jonathan cutting the cake. Ok, I was talking about the wedding. The ceremony itself was nice. I’d say there were approximately 150 people that attended. The thing that stood out most though is how quickly it all flew by. Following the 30 minute ceremony and more pictures, we were off to the nearby reception located at the Madison House where we had been the night before for the rehearsal dinner. The wedding was at 4:30 on Saturday and by around 8:30, the reception was over and the bride & groom were off on their honeymoon (Hawaii).
It was great to be a part of it all. I’m excited for Jonathan & Miranda. I’ll be seeing them again soon too. Following the honeymoon, they’ll be living in Thousand Oaks for a few months before returning to active ministry with Campus Crusade.
The next morning, we drove to Charlotte to fly home. If all went well, we would be home late Sunday night. It didn't turn out that way...
A storm hit Atlanta that afternoon and shut down the airport landing strip Our flight to Atlanta was thus delayed, and by the time of our landing, we had missed our connecting flight
The Purple Sofa
Serious stuff on the purple sofa. to Salt Lake City. There weren't a lot of options open to us. We wouldn't be able to get to Burbank that night. Matt was pressed to get back for work the next day, and was able to grab the last open seat to LAX. For Mike, Heather, Rachel, and I, it was time to get settled into Atlanta until the next morning.
Thankfully Mike's sister lives in Dunwoody, a suburb of Atlanta. Convenient! We hopped onto Marta, the citywide rail system, and traveled to our unexpected destination for the night. Super nice to be welcomed into a home on such short notice.
The next morning, we did make the journey home. My bags didn't, but I did (one bag was delivered to me two days later, the other is still missing).
All in all, a great trip though.
Before I wrap up this blog update, I should mention that things are good with my Thai girlfriend Saai. It's a challenge dating long distance but we're managing through e-mail and phone calls. I've got a 10 day trip to Thailand planned for late January to visit her! My next blog update will likely be for Christmas
The Parlor
Rachel, Mike, and Heather in the parlor of the Madison House. when I visit my family in Colorado.
That's all for now! Look, there goes Dave!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.205s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 16; qc: 80; dbt: 0.1112s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.3mb
Roxy girl
non-member comment
Wow it's such a good trip and great time to be with old friends.