Catching at...

Let us see how me can abuse the English today. Or degenerate into "blogtalk" or "Flying Dragon's-office-speak" (no--I'll always have too many words for that, even if they be the wrong ones).

Cousinses (including aunt and uncle)--good. Fun.

Wedding--wonderful. Hannah happy and beautiful and happily and beautifully married.

Brother--good. Nice to have home.

Yes, we went to see relations in a state which shall remain nameless, who were very gracious and hospitable and had a Barnes and Noble dangerously close by.

From there I took my solitary flight to NC, where I and my luggage eventually arrived, and got to participate in all the fun of stuffing rice bags and folding napkins and ironing very large pieces of skirt and folding programs while groomsmen played AOE (just kidding--well, kind of) and trying not to scream too loudly when hair and makeup aren't working and you realize that she's getting MARRIED...and decorating the car and putting her name on the wrong side (oops). I didn't even cry. The ringbearer was most attentive, and has joined my list of I-was-born-too-early-for. I like being a bridesmaid.

But I have decided I shouldn't get married anytime soon--walking down the aisle was scary enough as it was. Trying to maintain tempo and not trip on my skirt and not trip on the white cloth thing and holding my bouquet and smiling was almost too much for me to manage.

The wedding, I thought, was beautiful--focusing on the Lord, and them serving Him together in their marriage. They love each other, and make each other very happy, and the service was very personal. All I could see was the back of the bride's head, but I hear she was glowing. It was cool, too--the pastor spoke the vows in English, and they repeated them to each other in French. They had copies of their vows written out for all the guests to sign as witnesses.

It was far too warm, and we were all tired and hungry. and one bridesmaid almost fainted--which would have been exciting if we hadn't been worried about her ;). The pastor wore an African [whatever it's properly called], and they had a drummer for announcements. Several of the guests wore bright African clothes--there were even some with desert turbans and swords. It made me think a little of heaven, where we will all join in together singing praise to the One Who has redeeemed us to God out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. The reception hall was decorated with things from Niger, and we ate couscous and dates and olives and other things that I don't know the name for. There was bissap to drink--iced tea brewed with hibiscus, lots of sugar, and a bit of ginger--very good.

I liked our dresses too--light blue knee-length, long-sleeved tops and wrap skirts (panyas, I think), with silver and blue embroidery. The skirt measures from the floor up to about my chin and requires talent to fold (the line must come along the left, or African women will know you don't know what you're doing). Someone asked if my shoes came from Niger, too, to which I replied, "Ross!" The groomsmen all wore silver knee-length tops and silver pants, and sandals with little red pom-pom tassels. Hannah and Abdoulaye wore white, with silver and gold embroidery, and Hannah wore her mother's veil edged with pearls. The flowers were blue--white gladiolas, and delphiniums blue.

And I got to meet so many new friends who understand about missions, and see some of my long-missed school friends and most of the Dragons and Nathan! There were too many people to talk to and not enough time--a lot of that is going to have to wait for heaven.

N and I had a very fun ride home, even though Tennessee was very long and Arkansas quite literally stank. And now he is home, if only for a little while.

Someday I shall be in a place where I can stop saying goodbye. But for now, I have some crying to catch up on.