An Oxford Union

To my utter delight, Oxford reunions (of sorts) have happened more frequently these days, as though we have realized that those of us who live within a tank of gas or less don't have to wait for a momentous occasion to see each other. But this was the first time that a reunion coincided with a union--the greatly anticipated marriage of Sean and Jill, who have been friends since our days on Canterbury Road but recently decided that they would very much like to spend the rest of their lives together. (See the last chapter of Anne of Avonlea for reference, which was aptly quoted during the ceremony.)

We left Ohio on Saturday after breakfast with Mom and Dad Small, Justin, and Grandmom. Early afternoon we hit the Pennsylvania Turnpike and headed east toward Harrisburg, where we arrived in time for dinner and lots of good catching up with Chris and Angie, good friends who moved from Arlington a couple of years ago. We went to church with them on Sunday and hung out a bit with their pack of adorable kids (almost-five year old Joshua took pictures, but we left our camera in the car :( ), then drove to Carlisle for the wedding.

Jill and Sean's wedding was simple, heartfelt, and lovely. We Oxford folks spent the reception doing what we do best: talking, deeply and thoroughly. Near the end of the night (we closed down the place!), Jason suggested that perhaps since we weren't dancing, we could move to a different table that wasn't near the dance floor so that we could hear each other! We talked late (late) into the night, and then decided to keep going by having dinner at our house on Tuesday! I have already tried (and failed) to put into words how I feel about this crew. Laura perhaps put it best by saying that we awaken within each other something that is dormant with everyone else, and it is so nice for those parts of us to come out and play. You can imagine, then, just how happy Sean and Jill's wedding made us.