Erin and Jack got married: It was a great day for a party with 300+ of our closest friends

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.

• Victor Hugo

One of the most gratifying aspects was overhearing more than a few people saying that our wedding was the best one they’d ever attended. It was certainly the best party I’ve ever been to. After much dancing and meeting and greeting, it ended with us sitting next to the Columbia River with a few of our closest friends until after 1 a.m. By the time all was said and done, we didn’t get to sleep until after 2:30 a.m.

We had to be up in time to be at a brunch reception my new sister-in-law was hosting at 9:00 a.m Sunday morning, which, as you might imagine, we were a bit late in arriving for. After all the excitement and lost sleep, the past couple of days have been devoted largely to rest and recovery. Fortunately, we were smart enough to take enough time off work to allow us to enjoy and relax. Neither of us go back to work until tomorrow. Today will be devoted to thank you cards for the veritable mountain of gifts we received. Alcohol, kitchen items, bedding, towels, money…it seems few things bring the generosity of people to the surface like a wedding.

Among the many truly cool things about the ceremony and the reception was that I played four songs with the band. I’d had one rehearsal with the band, and I didn’t really know the songs, but I managed to get through it. Even though I felt as if I had no idea what I was doing, no one picked up on it. Performing with a band had always been on my bucket list, and I was thrilled beyond measure to be able to do it at my own wedding. It may well be the only time I perform for a crowd that large, but it was a blast…and I even managed to learn a few things.

Making the occasion even more special were the efforts made by my family to be there. My parents, in their mid-70s and not in the greatest of health, came from Wisconsin. Mom and Dad hadn’t flown since 1994, and I suspect this trip was very likely the last one they’ll be able to make. That they decided to make the trip, which couldn’t have been easy for either of them, meant more to me than I have words to describe. Having them here, especially having been estranged for so many years, meant the world to me.

One brother rode up from New Mexico on his motorcycle, another flew out with his wife from Minnesota, and another drove cross-country from Wisconsin with his wife and two college-age sons. Even after all the time that I’d avoided my family, they willingly traveled long distances to be there for Erin and me. Having them there made what was already a special day even more meaningful. With all of us having reached middle age, and with my parents no longer able to get around as well as they have in years past, I looked around and realized that our time together as a whole is dwindling. Having finally made the effort to reconnect with my family, I feel as if I’ve been able to reconnect with myself. Sharing my wedding day with them made me feel as if we’ve come full circle.

With more than 300 people in attendance, there was no way I could talk to everyone, so if you were there and I missed you…mea culpa. Know that your attendance was truly appreciated and considered an honor. That so many people would come out to celebrate our wedding still makes me a bit misty. I knew love on that day as I have on no other in my life, because I was surrounded by it. We’re blessed to have a large and wonderful aggregation of friends and family, and while there were a few who couldn’t be there, something like 95% of those we invited managed to make it. I am truly humbled by the outpouring of love and support.

Our families hit it off famously, and it was fun watching them get to know one another. After years of wanting to be as far away from my family as possible, being surrounded by my family- as well as the Myklebust and McMahons- felt like the most natural thing in the world. It may an already special day infinitely more meaningful.

Erin and I returned home to Portland to host a dozen people in the home we purchased in February, and it was great to have some relaxed time to hang out with friends and family. There were people sleeping on couches and floors, but since these were all people from the Midwest we don’t see but once in a great while, it was good to be surrounded by friends and family.

Our last guest left to fly home this morning, and both of us go back to work tomorrow. We leave for our honeymoon in Iceland and Norway on September 3rd, so we still have that to look forward to. Now we’re trying to figure where to put all the gifts we received, and the home that felt as if it had so much space in February is beginning to fill up. It’s a nice dilemma to have.

The best part of the experience is that Erin and I are married. That fact doesn’t really change anything; we’d long ago made that commitment to each other, but it was an awesome excuse for a party. The fact that so many friends and family were there to celebrate with us made a special occasion truly memorable.

Here’s to a long and happy life.