It has been a long time since we entered anything here. I think I will continue the story begun on the December 2012 entry. It ended as we first published our engagement in April. In May, we spoke often on the phone, and Richard attended his first Hurricane Intermediate School Orchestra and Choir concerts where he was first introduced in Hurricane as Carolyn's fiancé.
We went to Hollywood to visit Liz. We went to Roy to visit Becky and her family. While coming home from Roy, we also visited Rita and Wayne Harmon, Joan's sister and brother-in-law who live in Sandy. We met with all of Richard's children at his home in Las Vegas.
Richard had a birthday party for Joan on June 7, and all his children came.
On June 8, we had a birthday party for Carolyn and all the children came. It was at this party that the term "Bedlamite" was formally introduced as an appellation for all the members of the soon to be united family.
We were married in the Las Vegas temple at 9:00 a.m. on the 9th of June, 2012. At least that is when the sealing session began. Richard had removed his watch, symbolic of setting aside earthly concerns, so he could not tell time. Carolyn did not wear a watch either. The sealer was Ferrin Bunker. His first name was a coincidence. We are not aware of any family relationship leading to his first name, though he is remotely related to Richard. He was selected because, of all the sealers in the temple, he is the one with the most relationships with both Carolyn and Richard. When Carolyn's family moved to Las Vegas in the 1970's, Brother Bunker was in their ward. When Richard brought his family to Las Vegas in 1992, Brother Bunker was the stake patriarch. He gave patriarchal blessings to all the children in Richard's family with the single exception of Alycia, who had received hers in Alaska. He had also served with Richard in the temple, and was currently serving on the same shift to which Richard had been assigned as coordinator. So Richard knew him well, and Carolyn remembered him fondly. As each of us had been previously sealed for eternity with our now deceased spouses, this marriage and sealing was for the remainder of our mortal lives. This is a relatively rare ordinance for a sealer, but Elder Bunker did a great job. As Richard and Carolyn shared their first kiss over the alter, tears of joy filled each of their eyes.
After the temple ceremony, we joined with family and friends at the meetinghouse at Stewart and Hollywood. There we presented each guest with a Gumby figure, explaining its part in helping us to remain flexible and cheerful through all the changes inevitable when two families are joined together as one. Amanda Salmon and Laura Kennedy had joined forces to provide a wonderful Disney style experience for the numerous (some suggested innumerable, but they are numbered to us, for they are ours) little ones whose parents had been involved in the wedding. The marvelous decorations had been planned by Carolyn's sister Margie and Margie's daughters. The food was prepared and served by David Watkins. David had been the director of food services in the temple for many years, and was currently employed as the chief instructor and coordinator of the Culinary department of the Eastern Technological High School. The food was wonderful and the service was great. Andy Finch provided photographic support in recording the event. At about 1 pm we needed to leave to catch our airline flight, and said goodbye to friends and family,
Rachel Leavitt acted as chauffer in taking us to the airport so our car did not need to stay in the airport parking lot while we were gone. She was very discrete in purposely not noticing all the kissing and hugging in the back seat of the Yukon. The giggling, though, did cause a few glances into the rear view mirror. But Richard just could not help giggling.
We flew to Los Angeles where we spent our first two nights. We had decided that a long flight would leave us weary, and had scheduled a flight to Hawaii for Monday, avoiding travel on Sunday while still getting away. We enjoyed a couple's massage, and dinner by room service. We awoke the next morning and went to church in the Wilshire Ward building. The choir leader was the sister who played the same part in the movie "Mobsters and Mormons." It was fun getting to meet and speak with her. After meetings, we returned to the hotel, and enjoyed a leisurely stroll around downtown LA, and Richard pointed out where he had worked and a few of the special places he remembered from the summer of 1991. Perhaps best remembered was the location of the See's Candy store just a block from his office building.
On Monday, we flew to Honolulu, where we rented a red Mustang Convertible and drove to the Marriot hotel on Waikiki beach. We loved our time there, especially enjoying the beach, the ocean waves, the food in the many dining places nearby, and the many activities available.
On Tuesday, we began our day with a drive to Laie to attend a session in the Hawaii temple, followed by a wonderful guided visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Richard participated in a drumming exercise, and acted the part of a village leader in a drama. Bad acting and worse music, but it was a lot of fun. We finished the evening with the best seats in the house for the nightly cultural show. Then we enjoyed the trip back in our red Mustang convertible.
Wednesday we enjoyed a drive in the red Mustang convertible to the Dole pineapple plantations. The best part was the fresh pineapple ice cream and just being together.
Thursday, we drove the red Mustang convertible to the Pearl Harbor memorial. We spent the day touring, including a visit to the USS Arizona. That night we went on a harbor cruise on a large catamaran, enjoying dinner enroute, and the fireworks that evening.
Friday, we drove the red Mustang convertible back to the airport and turned it in. :( We then flew back to Las Vegas and stayed at the Marriot Resort Friday night. We had a fun limousine ride from the airport to the resort, making a quick stop on the way. Rachel was kind enough to arrange to park the Yukon at the resort, so it would be easy for us to leave whenever we wanted on Saturday. It is a very nice vehicle, but it is not a red Mustang convertible.
Sunday, we attended church meetings in the El Camino Ward, where Richard had been a member for 20 years. It was a little strange, but Sister Leavitt handled things very well, and endeared herself to all the ward members with her cheerful smile and friendly conversations.
