A steady stream of flowing consciousness

First, listen to your brain (when it's not on drugs) and when it tells you to take along extra batteries for the camera. Be happy that the batteries did last long enough for you to get a shot of the bride and her mother and be thankful that everyone else who had a brain not on drugs had batteries in their camera and that even one of those "be prepared" types posted her pictures of the wedding festivities on her blog at (http://wordtosser.blogspot.com/2007/10/bloggers-and-reporters.html).
Do your best to remember the beauty of changing trees, deep green grass, the placid Pend Oreille River (except for the loud motor boat that came through during the uttering of vows), the many faces of friends and strangers who gathered for this wedding of one of Dover's darlings. Don't forget the Border Collies who weaved their way in and out of crowds hoping for handouts of crackers, cheese, that roasted pig and maybe even a piece of cake. Don't forget that conversation with Emily who counsels teens at a facility in Western Washington, or how good Sarah looks after all that time up there at her Alaskan salmon hatchery and that it's the Portland Mercury where Courtney submits her writing, including movie reviews, and how all the friends think that Stephany ought to name her baby boy "Newton" when he arrives in December because both Stephany and her husband are such smart computer geeks. And, that now you call Niki Parenteau, Doc! Be sure to tell the family you saw the Bieglers and that Renate still remembers how Barbara taught her how to ride English and your amazement that Renate even knew who you were after all these years without being told. I've already told my husband Bill how nice Jim Kershner and his wife Carol are . . . after all, what Border Collie owner ISN'T nice ? . . . and Bill has said he sure would like to meet Jim Kershner cuz he writes those occasional articles about trees in his Spokesman column . . . and don't forget that Oliveria shared a new piece of information that he and his wife are good friends with one of Byron and Ellamae Chronic's daughters. And, you still can't get over how Doug Sherwood couldn't remember who you were after 43 years---what's with the young man anyway? Maybe it's that blocking out all memories of smart-aleck seniors when you're a lowly high school sophomore, but that's okay cuz Doug is nice enough and so is his wife. They live in Michigan for now while Doug consults . . . and then there was Carolyn Monroe who thought you looked "lighter than" when she last saw you back in the '70s, adding that she meant that all in a good way. Julie got herself a tall cowboy for a hubby and they have Quarter Horses in Chattaroy. You can't forget to mention that Big Sam, who sat next to Mardette, handed out his new business cards with that famous black-and-white picture someone snapped of him standing tall and lean in his ski sweater and cap back in 1965 in front of the old Schweitzer Lodge. Among the lucky recipients of Sam Wormington business cards were Linda who remembers your fetish for good jokes while working in the season ticket office so long ago, and Tim and Debbie who also worked at Schweitzer in the good old days and who sat at your same table back at Alana's wedding a few weeks ago on the other side of the river on a much warmer Saturday afternoon. Tim felt safe this time cuz I had no double A's to help me record his expressions as we parent friends and teacher friends of Erica sat around nibbling on cheese and crackers, drinking wine and watching the scores of Erica and Matt's friends make their way through the lines to the finger food and the wine dispensers and then make their way back to the tables. That was upstairs in the barn, and downstairs, the photographers with batteries in their cameras, kept on snapping, including Cis who caught that shot of Matt and Erica with Old Doverites standing in front of the old restored barn where Claude Simon once kept his horses and, later, Alex and Kayo Fraser. And, be sure to note how great Randy and Gail looked, all spiffed up, as they gave away that daughter who was so gorgeous in her wedding dress and as they took in a son-in-law who designed an exquisitely beautiful engagement/wedding ring for his bride. Yup, the mayor and first lady of Dover carried off a mighty fine wedding with help from friends, family and the school bus drivers.
And, I forgot my extra batteries, but I'll never forget the sights and sounds of the special day. One last notation---don't forget to encourage folks to watch "60 Minutes" tonight for the segment about Dr. Bird.