Marriage Madness in Miami

We did it! My lovely auntie Marianne took us to "Chef Allen" for an outrageous rehearsal dinner replete with bottles of Mumm's, exciting and unusual cuisine, and personalized menus. That's the first picture of us looking reasonably refined. Then, then next afternoon on the 27th, we drove to the Biscayne Boulevard Courthouse in north Miami and waited...on line...for about 20 minutes. We sat down at a little window, and the gentleman helping us was about the only thing that resembled our original plan - a rasta with waist-length dreads. He took the license we had obtained in Fernandina Beach, disappeared for a while, and came back and asked for $30. We wondered, is that it? Are we married now? All my family was in tow, and were equally dismayed to think that was the whole thing. But no! He laughed at us and said, "come with me to the marriage room". It was a cute litte room decorated with silk flowers to look like a little wedding place. They even had a fake flower bouquet for the bride to hold. He told us to look at eachother and take eachother's hands. Then he said the usual words. He was impressed that we had remembered to bring rings for eachother. It was very cute and sweet, and culminated in the joyful statement; "You may kiss the bride!" I threw the bouquet, my daughter Cate caught it, and the deal was done. More later, but we are now struggling to get on track to cross the gulf stream. In any case, HAPPY NEW YEAR from Wayne and Isabel Francis. May love, peace, and health fill the new year for all.