Hello, all -- I spoke to Laurel on the telephone today. She is sounding much, much better.
Her surgery couldn't be scheduled until tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon. She has been warmed by your messages, which are being faxed (by me or by you directly) to her friends' house for her. On Saturday night she celebrated a triple birthday - hers (coming up - the 27th or so?), her brother's and her 'best buddy' Connie's. On Sunday they had an outdoor wedding in the Japanese garden at Royal Roads University in Victoria, Canada. 'It was absolutely lovely', says Ms. Laurel. It was really hot out. Sunday morning Rick and Laurel had gone to the street arts market in downtown Victoria and she found this beautiful, soft, light, white, flowing embroidered dress. She wore over that a brilliant orange-yellow batik shawl and the amber bracelet, necklace and earrings that Jessica had brought back to her as a gift from her cruise in Alaska. She must have been glowing in the sunshine just like a ray of light herself. Our colleague Terry Conway (tell us if you have time, Terrie, the story of the wedding) facilitated the Open Space, which lasted about 2 hours. Rick had called local family and friends at the last minute, and everybody arrived -- even his brother and his wife. Rick called his brother at 9:50am Sunday as the wife was still asleep -- the two of them had to get on a ferry at 10:10am in order to make the wedding -- the two of them just brushed their teeth, threw on some clothes and came. Brett, Jessica, Chelsea and Rick's 10-year-old daughter Breanna were also present, along with most of Laurel's family, including her mother. On Monday they had another wedding (the official one for paperwork and legalities) - a civil ceremony in the back yard. Brett and Jessica were the witnesses -- Brett was the Best Man and Jessica was the Matron of Honor. Now Laurel feels 'settled and set' - as her biggest fear was how to legally hold the family together in the event of any health emergency (Laurel is divorced from the childrens' father and everyone including the kids have wanted Laurel and Rick to get married so that Rick can be their father, too.) Family members have taken over the day-to-day duties for the household. Laurel's sister Darlene and her husband flew into town and said they'd stay as long as they were needed - weeks, months, whatever it takes. The 'kiddos' (Brett - 14 and Jessica - 16 live in the house -- daughter Chelsea lives on her own in town) are 'scared shitless of Auntie Dar', who's apparently 'a little 4-foot, 11-inch dynamo -- a powerhouse', says Laurel). Auntie Dar already has the kids going through every item in their rooms and she is helping them organize and clean. Which let me tell you: never happens when their mother tries to get them to do that... Dar moved Brett downstairs to stay in the sunroom so Laurel and Rick could have the whole upstairs of the house to themselves. You go, Auntie Dar! Rick and Laurel's brother are downstairs cleaning and rewiring the basement and setting up a workshop for Rick. They are happily puttering away. The family is ready for tomorrow, and Laurel is feeling ready to handle whatever happens as it happens. I'll try to check in later on Wednesday or on Thursday so I can let you know how everything goes. Thank you for your love, support and prayers -- Laurel feels your love surrounding her. Lisa -- L i s a H e f t Consultant, facilitator, educator Experiential learning and Open Space Technology 2325 Oregon Berkeley, California 94705-1106 USA (+01) 510 548-8449 www.openspaceworld.com * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html