Catching Up - Wilt Wedding MPLS

I didn't get a chance to write about our trip to the Twin Cities for the Wilt Wedding May 5th. Last week I got distracted by Odie. Over 300 people read my Odie blog. I know you are all animal lovers - hug your pets and support those animal causes. I sure miss her. It's been lonely around our house.

I do want to share this important and happy event with my blog readers.

We had a fantastic trip up north, the weekend of May 5th. We started with a night in our fave MN town, Northfield. Thanks to Vicki (my college roomie) and Fred Behr for inviting us. Since our drive took us right by Owatonna of course, we had to stop at Paul's fave shopping place - Cabela's.

He was on a mission to purchase a meat smoker, and he had gift cards (60th birthday gift) in hand, plus cash credits from our charge card. Woohoo! I had plenty of time to check out the store while he learned all about smokers from not one, but two different salesmen. I decided against purchasing someone else's returned shoes (eeew) in the bargain department. Paul settled on an electric smoker with wood chips. We hope to try it out this weekend.

We got to Northfield about 6:30 p.m. just in time for a beer with our hosts, Vicki and Fred. It was a gorgeous evening and we decided to head downtown to a brewpub that we'd visited last summer when Lauren Behr got married. The place was busy and we stood outside sipping our beverages. Students from St. Olaf University (Fred's employer) kept driving by with a float, waving at us. Later, Fred grilled burgers back at their place and we sat up and laughed and talked - catching up.

Talking to Vic is always like stepping back in time. We got to know each other first at the tender age of 18, as friends at Iowa State University. Karma put us on the same dormitory floor - I hit the jackpot there! A lifetime friendship flourished. As an introvert who didn't know much about making new friends, cooking and traveling, I hitched my wagon to a great person in Vic. She is good at all that stuff. And she is willing to try lots of things - something I've always been leery of. I don't know what she got out of the friendship? My snarky sense of humor that matched hers? A listening ear? My college education was richer because of friends like Vic.

When you live together like we did for three years, you get to know each other so well. We became more than friends. We know about each other's high school friends, relatives, and life stories. It's like we're sisters. When we get back together, the years melt away. Our husbands, Fred and Paul play along when we get together. We do talk about other stuff. The kids, current events, future trips. We're thinking about a trip next summer with the Behrs and Wilts. Old friends are good!

Saturday we shopped a bit in downtown Northfield, then ate lunch at our fave deli there. On our way to Minneapolis for the 5 PM wedding, we decided to stop just south of the cities for a Cinco de Mayo margarita. We sat outdoors, listening to a musician on a beautiful spring day. Life is good!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! 

Paul and I checked into the hotel to get ready for the nuptials. Bride Jaime Wilt (now Opthof), is the daughter of our good friends Steve (Moose) and Kay Wilt. I've known Moose about as long as I've known Vicki. We've known Jaime all of her life! My first memory of her was a vacation when Behrs, Wilts and Goldsmiths went to Bemidji, MN in early June. Miss Jaime was just a few months old. We've enjoyed watching her and later lil sis Alyssa grow up through the years.

We met her husband Mike when they started dating as students at the U. of Minnesota several years ago. We've been so glad that we've been able to hang out with them several times - what nice peeps! Mike's parents are originally from the Netherlands but have lived in the US for years, raising their two children here. He's a guy anyone would love to add to their family.

A father's last words of wisdom? 

The wedding was at a cool venue, a former police station in Midtown. The ceremony was upstairs. It was touching, beautiful and simple. The couple looked elegant. Weddings reveal a great deal about each couple. Jaime and Mike enjoy beer and they found a way to include their favorite beverage in the ceremony. It's cool that traditions while keeping some of the same things from the past, are adding in new touches.

Post dancing now-married couple

After the ceremony we all went downstairs for drinks while upstairs was set up for a family style meal and dance. Ann and Steve Hauser sat with us for the meal. They are college pals who also live in the Twin Cities. We also sat with the Wilt's Gurnee, IL (hometown friends). It was interesting to get to know the people they talk about (in a good way) when we get together.

Fred and Vic's daughters Kelli and Lauren attended the wedding with their spouses Toby and Patrick. The Behr girls spent a lot of vacation time with the Wilts through the years. The star of the show was Kelli/Toby's little guy Teddy who at age 20 monthsish, is speedy! He headed for the kitchen, taunting his father who worked up a sweat keeping up with him.

We had a blast dancing the night away. Yes, they did play Love Shack. Moose, Kay, and Maid of Honor, sister/daughter Alyssa looked to be having a ball. We all enjoyed celebrating with the happy couple! There is nothing better than being with loved ones for life's happy events. Congratualtions to the Wilts and Opthofs for raising two great children and a heck of a wedding.