A blast of furnace hot and greenhouse humid air walloped us in the face as we exited the small Avianca air craft that brought us back to Cartagena on the last leg of our return from New Orleans, LA. There we had enjoyed some brisk seasonal fall weather during the week long family and wedding festivities and the difference was quite a shock.

Looking back at the "wedding week" of celebration for Daisy and Keith, it is hard to choose my favorite from the multitude of happy scenes and sweet moments, so here follows a collection of some of them.

Daisy whirling in dance amongst her closest high school friends and her two brothers at a concert at the New Orleans Circle Bar, where I also met Keith's father and his wife for the first time.

The pleasure of watching Keith as he lead the way proudly around the French Quarter to find us a restaurant serving the rich and spicy Creole food of his hometown.

Embracing my brother Mark the night he arrived with my mother from England. Although we seldom see each other he never fails to make me laugh and wish we were able to spend more time together. He is a special person and a very gentle man.

Barbara (fresh from a recent replacement hip operation) waving her walking stick above her head as she sashayed among the crowd down Bourbon Street while the jazz bands played on.
Mummy flushed from a walk in the New Orleans sunshine and a ride on the Mississippi boat Natchez.

After decorating the room with fresh, homemade flower arrangements the morning of the wedding, I sat breathing in the heady scent while enjoying the unexpected treat of the band "Or the Whale" (see side bar for link to their amazing music) as they practiced some of the melodic songs they had lined up for the wedding festivities. I was tired, but their music in that intimate setting filled me with emotion and energy.

Daisy with her eight year old flower girl (cousin Rosa) at the hairdressers having their tresses arranged around the incredible floral crowns that were part of their wedding finery. Squeezed for time, we commandeered a taxi to escape traffic stopped at a police swat scene and made it to the wedding only fifteen minutes late.

The sight of Richard leading Daisy, so alike in stature, on his arm up the aisle ( a tough walk if ever there was one) as beloved family and friends looked on with huge smiles and wet cheeks.

Keith's beautiful wedding proclamation to Daisy, full of his love for her and his joy of sharing his life with her in the future.

Archie dancing with Lindsey and Katie Levy and Grandma, looking like he has spent way too many hours clubbing into the early hours in the last two years, but boy is he good.

Rupert and Thomas dressed as luny hippies for Halloween night, one with a huge afro wig, the other with a Rasta beret and a peace pendant, both with round hippy sunglasses and an arm around each other. It took me all the way back to California Terrace.

It was quite a week of family reunion and reaffirmed friendships filled with intimacy. I missed David and Jo, Abuelito, Manda, Lucy, Alma and Alison many times over as we celebrated the joining of an incredible, inspiring woman with the sweet man of her dreams. We are so thankful to everyone who made the journey with us and we feel blessed.

More photos here:

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