The next morning, our bed
showed the effects of sleep but Janet
and Larry
looked like they needed more though Suzanne
seemed awake as Fran and Sylvia
hugged goodbye. We ventured out
to the street
and crossed to the fountain
so we could take pictures
as we walked through
which amused Larry
but made us realize that it was going to be a cold day.
As others checked out of the hotel
we drove past the Bromo Seltzer clock
inspiring Sarah to do an artistic portfolio
even as the road
distracted but she was soon back
with another break
before more orchids
a traffic scene
or more
and more orchids
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with closeups
of traffic
and even of the seat sticker
then back to orchids
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before we mercifully parked the car
on the neighbor's grass and headed into the house
where Eric and Barbara
greeted Larry and Janet
as Betsy ate
while Ben played
and Suzanne
and Fran
ate though Dick and Jane (remember reading about them)
posed without baby Sally.
Not to be outdone, Fran
posed with Sarah
though they don't seem to have ever had their own basal reader.
The food,
coffee,
groom's cake,
cookies
and other desserts
amused the crowd
as Bob
and then Sarah and Jane
posed for picture triples before Sarah and Emily
decided to do the twins with glasses pictures.
Meanwhile, our attempt to get a picture of him
was interrupted by the cocktail hot dogs
as Barbara conversed
and Larry approached him
for the group picture
that Dick joined
so that we could have a family portrait.
At this point, Larry and Janet were feeling lonely, so Sarah and Dick agreed
to pose as their children
so that their whole family could be represented at the wedding.
After saying our good byes to Rachel and Toba
we followed this car
whose tags may never have existed as I drove
into the frame
and except for a few required orchid pictures
and a pass of the Gilman School
where we noted that our water
was paid up we got to Betsy's house where we entered
group by group to see a crying baby
and a sleeping baby
and after some discussion
Suzanne and Jack
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did a major bonding ritual with a break to record the play area
and then more bonding
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as Sarah and Emma
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had a bonding ritual of their own though Betsy
interrupted one picture
as Suzanne and Jack
did nothing to amuse Ben
though Pat
seemed happy to see Emma
with Sarah
as Suzanne bounced Jack
and Sarah held Emma
so that the twins
could bond with each other as Dick
tried to capture the image and Jane and Pat
watched
into the darkness. There followed a potpourri of pictures
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some of which were recorded
against a backdrop
of amusements. This is what they saw
unless they were shooting in this direction
or waiting for Jack to get in his seat
as the girls watched
and Emma got in her seat
for fun
so that we could all watch
and Betsy and Matt
opened the gifts Suzanne had brought (not for them).
Next, the candles were lit
on the birthday cake and Ben
stepped up to the challenge and blew them out
so that we could celebrate
and he could open his gifts
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before an attempt to get a family picture from afar
and close up
as Fran took
one that looked like this
and the food was served
as Ben did magic toothpick tricks
and I got a good self portrait
before the basketball men appeared
encouraging me to take some self profile pictures
that are among my best. After noting that the creme filled Krispy Kremes
were left, we hit the road, following this Gilman car
to the toll booth
where they charged an exorbitant rate
and then the cheaper toll booth
though Jane
slept through the journey until we got to Market Fair
and I toasted Ben's birthday with pizza
washed down by Diet Snapple
while he had birthday hot dogs
so that we could see the family movie he had picked.
Back at home, Ben turned to the first of the accumulated gifts
while I posed in my raincoat
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from all sides and Ben continued the process by opening the next gift
and the one after that
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and yet another
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and a final gift
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before declaring it a very active and very enjoyable weekend.
Good life together, Emily and Jim.
Happy birthday Ben
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