The Bible says there is a time for everything. For our family the time for weddings has arrived. I have eight grandchildren. The oldest has been married several years. This spring: Bam! Three more have announced plans to be married within the year. Two have already had their “announcement parties.” One was last winter; one was last weekend. Both were in the Jackson area. The first was granddaughter Leigh Rogers to Christopher Loecher. The second was grandson Douglas McRae to Sarah Walker of Boulder, Colorado.
My only reason for mentioning them in the first place in a printed article is that the latter was like old home week with the former Columbians I got to see. I had a long visit with Robert and Melissa Russell Murphree, who grew up with my daughters. We have kept in touch through the years, but it is always good to sit down together for a good conversation.
The First United Methodist Church of Columbus was well represented by former pastor Sam Morris and his wife, Judy, and by Ken Roberts who had been its minister of music when my children were growing up and were in his youth choirs. Ken has a special place in our family history, since our daughter Nora Frances met her husband, Vaughan, in a church production of “Brigadoon” that Ken directed years ago when she had first moved to Jackson. So, you might say Ken had played cupid for them.
For the party, former Columbian Jimmy Jarrett was at the piano, occasionally accompanied by a couple of guitarists. I must admit my heart swelled when at one point, with a nod in my direction, he pounded out “Hail, S.D. Lee High.”
My good friend, Betty Stephens Cooper, with whom I shared a metal hall locker for six years at S.D. Lee, was a welcome guest. She had taught my Jackson son-in-law in high school.
In October ex-patriate Columbians in the Jackson area throw a Columbus Day party. Well, this family party looked like a reprise of the Columbus Day party.
Accommodations for the weekend were, for obvious reasons, spread out. My sister Margaret Whiting and daughter Diana Butgereit, both from Georgia, shared mine. During whatever down time we had we unabashedly indulged in girl stuff, not only talking about, but also Googling such things as dresses to wear for Special Occasions. We considered ideas spanning the next 12 months. It was like one massive shopping reconnaissance. I think one of the garments we located might actually end up being purchased for Diana’s daughter, Elisabeth, my granddaughter. We also found a picture of a ball gown bought for Margaret’s granddaughter, another Elizabeth, in Florida. I got to enjoy that purchase vicariously.
Men would have no comprehension of the pleasure we had, but I’ll bet any female reader could identify with us. It comes with the chromosomes, I think.
Recently I was in a group and talking about all “my weddings,” as usual. Betty Clyde Jones topped me by pointing out she will soon have two family weddings in two weeks. Whew! All that calls for great energy, stamina and serenity. I am sure she can handle it. I just hope I can sustain the requisite degree of composure for a longer — but surely less intense — time!
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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