A Joyous Occasion

Four days ago Keslie was married. The wedding was one of the most beautiful things I have seen in my eighteen years. The joy on dear Keslie's face as her new husband quietly lifted the veil from her face and reached down to kiss her, was indescribable. I shall never, never forget that moment.

Johanna and I spent three days after the wedding with Kami, first tidying up the Red Barn with Amber and Heather, and Sarah and Gracie, with all the Smiths. and with the Bisceglias and the Jantzens and all the wonderful people who were scurrying around packing things, saying our tearful goodbyes, then spending an hour or two beside the campfire, singing and talking and crying some more. The next day found us clad in long dresses and hoop skirts, moving our way across the Civil War reenactment at Fort Stevens, cameras in tow, hidden beneath our shawls and inside our little handbags. Tuesday was the last day, the day we had to leave, had to take our tickets and walk, slightly nervous, through the security lines, behind us the friends that had become dearer still than they had been before, the traces of tears still across our flushed cheeks.

Goodbye dearest Kami, and Mrs. Couch, and Mr. Couch and Gabe and Ben and Annie.

Oh dear, how I miss them. It feels odd being home again, happy as I am to see my dear family, to hug and kiss my baby brother, to smile at my dear sisters, and talk over the stove with my mother. It feels as if I have left a sister behind, in dear Kami. Being without her gives one a terribly odd feeling down in one's throat.

Missing you all, and loving you so,

Emma