Here comes the smudgestick...

When your father remarries, does that person automatically become your stepmother? And what about step-grandmother to your children? What is the protocol around this? My babysitter called me with this same question as she was helping my 4 year old daughter do her thank you cards. Should she address it Grandpa and Lucy? Grandpa and Grandma? "Grandpa and Grandma-Lu" is what I suggested, it seemed appopriate..even though Melanie has never met her new step-Grandma! Such a strange situation...all good, but odd. They will be coming to NY soon too, so Melanie will finally get to meet "Grandma-Lu"!

My Dad and his girlfriend of more years than I know for sure, got married in Santa Fe on May 7. My oldest daughter, Samantha was the flower girl. This was not a traditional ceremony by any stretch of the imagination, but Sammy did play a rather traditional role. And aside from their talk of reincarnation, they had rather traditional vows. Although, I'm not sure how many weddings begin with a smudging, and end with Bob Dylan's "The Wedding Song" immediately after the wedded kiss. Or how many ceremonies are performed by a priestess named Cookie?


Samantha and Lucy getting the flower girl basket ready:


Daddy's little girls:


Daddy and all his girls:


My Dad and his female clone:


Exchanging vows:

20 years ???really?

Ok, I did it, I went to my 20 year HS reunion. I admit I was a bit nervous about the whole thing, Chris did not want to go, and I didn't want to force him. Then one of my closest HS friends was unsure if she was attending...but it all worked out, Chris stayed home with the kids, and my friend and I went together, just like our 10 year, and the prom. No, we are not closet lesbian lovers ;-)

So, all in all, everyone looked great. Amazing that after 20 years, some people just did not change, and even more amazing, is that people who had poles up their asses in the 80's, STILL have poles up their asses. Why is that? I had a great time, but honestly, in 3 hours I was not able to talk to everyone that I would have liked to, and of course, despite my best intentions to mingle, I spent the most time with the people I still do keep in touch with. Here are some pictures of us...




Amazingly, I had a lot of fun, and I am really glad I went. I may even go to the 25th...but I don't know if I can handle the loud club thing again...that is so not my speed. There were so many people, so many conversations, and it is all a blur, 3 hours went by in about 30 minutes!