Wednesday, October 05, 2005
A week of South Carolina vacation and Scott’s Wedding
Well, for those keeping track, the Lindenberg family has been in Myrtle Beach, SC for the past 8 days (we got back on Monday). Scott and his long-time girlfriend, Stacy, tied the knot on Saturday. My Mom rented a house on the beach in Pauly’s Island for a week and we turned it into an extended beach vacation with a wedding kicker. For the most part the weather was beautiful, with warm sunny days and pleasant nights.
We spent virtually everyday on the beach. I boogie boarded the first few days, with both Pierce and Anna trying their own boogie boards and each coming back for more. Pierce is a natural and can even boogie board (in a limited fashion) by himself. My brother Doug and his (expecting twins) wife and their son, Kevin, came out mid-week with the surfboards -so the rest of the week was surf time. The waves were fun but nothing special. I guess the most you could say is that they’re much better than the waves we have in Kansas.
Stacy has friends in Pauly’s Island that own a beach house right on the water (they designed it themselves and its truly impressive). The house my Mom rented is three houses down from Stacy’s, so we got to do a lot of visiting before the big day. The interesting thing about Pauly’s Island is that the houses are literally built right up to the water. When high tide comes in the water hits deck posts and stairs of the beachfront houses. I can’t imagine what the place looks like when there’s a serious storm surge. Both our house and Stacy’s are built on stilts, so at least you don’t have to worry about the ocean coming in through the kitchen windows.
Scott arrived Wednesday evening and we started to pickup some real momentum for the week –it felt like a real family vacation. Scott spent the first few days (and nights) at Stacy’s house but moved into our house as the big day approached. Thursday evening saw the arrival of the first of the extended Lindenberg clan including my Dad and his girlfriend (Mary) and my uncle and his wife (Ed and Bernice). We boys (me and my two brothers) went to visit Dad and Mary for a happy hour drink and dinner. They were staying at the Litchfield beachfront resort –you had to see this place to believe it. Incredible. The night ran pretty late as we took Dad and Mary to see the virtual castle that Stacy’s Mom, Sheri, rented for the week (and a nice visit with Stacy’s side of the family) then went to Stacy’s beach house for more visiting and drinks.
Scott’s son, Chance, finished school for the week and he and his grandmother, Pat, came in Friday. They also stayed with us. Friday night was the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal was interesting in that we couldn’t actually do it on the beach. The tide had come so far in that each time we started to rehearse a wave would wash in and attempt to take us out to sea. We ultimately held the rehearsal “under” the wedding house.
The rehearsal dinner was a catered affair held under our house. Originally my Mom had hoped to have it on the beach, but with a fading sun and high tide figured into the equation it became an impossibility. We had a great showing (most of the wedding guests are from out of town) with genuine low country food on the buffet and genuine Costco desserts on the dessert table. Several of my cousins came in for the rehearsal dinner. In many cases I (and the entire Ruben and Lindenberg clans) had not seen each other for years. It was like a family reunion. Everyone seems to be healthy, happy and aging gracefully. I think our only regret was that the evening ended too soon.
Saturday, the morning of the big day, was warm and sunny with wispy clouds over a crystal blue ocean. The ladies all went out for a morning of pedicures and lunch while us men and kids spent a morning at the beach –this time joined by Scott and Chance. Our cousin Rick came out for a morning swim and some body surfing along side me and Pierce on the (same) boogie board. About 1:00 pm groomsmen started arriving for group photos (scheduled for 2:00). Of course, about 1:30 the skies started to cloud up and by 2:00 it was raining pretty well. All the pictures had to be taken inside but sun started to peak out about the time we were to walk over to the “wedding house” (we had gone over to the house earlier in the day to setup chairs on the beach and get everything ready).
Well, of course, the sun was a tease. The clouds rolled back in from the ocean and deluged our little island. Guests attempting to take the stairs up to the deck (the only way to enter Stacy’s house) were soaked. Grandparents in wheelchairs were stuck under the house –they could make it to the beach, but stairs were not going to happen.
The hope was, of course, that the storm would blow past, but the window of opportunity for this to happen before the tide came in was so narrow, that the opportunity escaped virtually without comment. Some of our proactive guests ran out to the beach to bring in the chairs before they washed out to sea. Fallback #2 was to have the ceremony in the house, but with the older guests stuck under the house with no way to make up the stairs this plan was quickly discarded.
Ultimately, the min-reception scheduled for after the ceremony was held at the house before the wedding while the restaurant scheduled for the “real” reception was made ready for the bride and groom. As an aside, nothing better prepares you for a wedding than a series of mini-, pre-reception beers. A number of the lady guests ran upstairs to see how Stacy was doing as she watched her meticulously planned beach wedding wash away. True to form, she wasn’t bothered in the least.
We reconvened at the restaurant, which is built like an immense, permanent tent. Open on the sides and covered overhead, you can smell the ocean and feel the breeze from within the entire structure. Surprisingly, disorganization was at a minimum and few things were forgotten in the migration of all wedding guests and items to the new location. Stacy and Scott had planned an informal wedding with the groom and groomsmen in kakis and linen shirts (shoes optional) and the bridesmaids in loose-fitting tops and sarongs. The restaurant perfectly fitted the occasion and the ceremony took place as smooth as silk. Of course Stacy looked gorgeous and she beamed throughout the entire service. Probably the most unusual part of the ceremony was when one of the two photographers put down his camera, put on a clergy robe, conducted the ceremony, then discarded the outfit, and resumed taking photographs. That’s one very multi-talented fellow. Of course the ultimate punch line is that by the time the ceremony was over and the reception started the sun was back out and the sky blue and clear.
The reception was a perfect reflection of Scott and Stacy’s laid-back approach. The groomsmen and guests started buying shots for the wedding party as we took the final set of pictures, the food was terrific, and there was lots of dancing and laughing throughout the evening. We finished the evening with an invite to my cousins, and Dad and Mary, to come back to the beach house for an extended visit. We stayed up into the wee hours telling silly stories and catching on the past few years worth of events. I think it’s the first time the Lindenberg side of the family had a chance to visit for an extended period –ever.
The next morning was a bit rushed as we packed up the house and ourselves in preparation for checking out. I shudder to think of how much food we threw out –but its par for the course whenever we have a family vacation. My Mom’s flight wasn’t till late in the afternoon, so were able to go out for one last lunch together before we parted company. Our flight back to Kansas wasn’t until the next day, so we spent the day at a “theme” resort hotel, Camelot. The front desk personnel all wear Renaissance outfits and the hotel looks like a giant castle. By far the resort’s saving grace is its massive sets of pools: there were indoor and outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs, kiddie pools, a sandbox, and the ultimate: the slow river –a circuit pool that you lounge in via an inner tube and laze away the day. We even spent a little time on the beach. Our room was on the penthouse level (19th floor) with a balcony overlooking the ocean and a spectacular view. Pierce and Anna thought the best part of the hotel was the closet off the sitting room; they liked to pretend it was an elevator.
The end of our trip proved a little more exciting that we would have preferred. Our flight was canceled after we had already checked in and gone through security. So we ended up spending much of the day waiting in the Myrtle Beach airport for our new flight. Fortunately, we had purchased a portable DVD player for use in the beach house and it proved the perfect activity for Pierce and Anna during our wait. It was truly a novelty for Nora and me to be able to read on the plane while Pierce and Anna were occupied with a DVD (or two).
And now life’s pretty much back to normal. Come back soon for lots of beach and wedding pictures.
-Eric (Dad)
We spent virtually everyday on the beach. I boogie boarded the first few days, with both Pierce and Anna trying their own boogie boards and each coming back for more. Pierce is a natural and can even boogie board (in a limited fashion) by himself. My brother Doug and his (expecting twins) wife and their son, Kevin, came out mid-week with the surfboards -so the rest of the week was surf time. The waves were fun but nothing special. I guess the most you could say is that they’re much better than the waves we have in Kansas.
Stacy has friends in Pauly’s Island that own a beach house right on the water (they designed it themselves and its truly impressive). The house my Mom rented is three houses down from Stacy’s, so we got to do a lot of visiting before the big day. The interesting thing about Pauly’s Island is that the houses are literally built right up to the water. When high tide comes in the water hits deck posts and stairs of the beachfront houses. I can’t imagine what the place looks like when there’s a serious storm surge. Both our house and Stacy’s are built on stilts, so at least you don’t have to worry about the ocean coming in through the kitchen windows.
Scott arrived Wednesday evening and we started to pickup some real momentum for the week –it felt like a real family vacation. Scott spent the first few days (and nights) at Stacy’s house but moved into our house as the big day approached. Thursday evening saw the arrival of the first of the extended Lindenberg clan including my Dad and his girlfriend (Mary) and my uncle and his wife (Ed and Bernice). We boys (me and my two brothers) went to visit Dad and Mary for a happy hour drink and dinner. They were staying at the Litchfield beachfront resort –you had to see this place to believe it. Incredible. The night ran pretty late as we took Dad and Mary to see the virtual castle that Stacy’s Mom, Sheri, rented for the week (and a nice visit with Stacy’s side of the family) then went to Stacy’s beach house for more visiting and drinks.
Scott’s son, Chance, finished school for the week and he and his grandmother, Pat, came in Friday. They also stayed with us. Friday night was the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal was interesting in that we couldn’t actually do it on the beach. The tide had come so far in that each time we started to rehearse a wave would wash in and attempt to take us out to sea. We ultimately held the rehearsal “under” the wedding house.
The rehearsal dinner was a catered affair held under our house. Originally my Mom had hoped to have it on the beach, but with a fading sun and high tide figured into the equation it became an impossibility. We had a great showing (most of the wedding guests are from out of town) with genuine low country food on the buffet and genuine Costco desserts on the dessert table. Several of my cousins came in for the rehearsal dinner. In many cases I (and the entire Ruben and Lindenberg clans) had not seen each other for years. It was like a family reunion. Everyone seems to be healthy, happy and aging gracefully. I think our only regret was that the evening ended too soon.
Saturday, the morning of the big day, was warm and sunny with wispy clouds over a crystal blue ocean. The ladies all went out for a morning of pedicures and lunch while us men and kids spent a morning at the beach –this time joined by Scott and Chance. Our cousin Rick came out for a morning swim and some body surfing along side me and Pierce on the (same) boogie board. About 1:00 pm groomsmen started arriving for group photos (scheduled for 2:00). Of course, about 1:30 the skies started to cloud up and by 2:00 it was raining pretty well. All the pictures had to be taken inside but sun started to peak out about the time we were to walk over to the “wedding house” (we had gone over to the house earlier in the day to setup chairs on the beach and get everything ready).
Well, of course, the sun was a tease. The clouds rolled back in from the ocean and deluged our little island. Guests attempting to take the stairs up to the deck (the only way to enter Stacy’s house) were soaked. Grandparents in wheelchairs were stuck under the house –they could make it to the beach, but stairs were not going to happen.
The hope was, of course, that the storm would blow past, but the window of opportunity for this to happen before the tide came in was so narrow, that the opportunity escaped virtually without comment. Some of our proactive guests ran out to the beach to bring in the chairs before they washed out to sea. Fallback #2 was to have the ceremony in the house, but with the older guests stuck under the house with no way to make up the stairs this plan was quickly discarded.
Ultimately, the min-reception scheduled for after the ceremony was held at the house before the wedding while the restaurant scheduled for the “real” reception was made ready for the bride and groom. As an aside, nothing better prepares you for a wedding than a series of mini-, pre-reception beers. A number of the lady guests ran upstairs to see how Stacy was doing as she watched her meticulously planned beach wedding wash away. True to form, she wasn’t bothered in the least.
We reconvened at the restaurant, which is built like an immense, permanent tent. Open on the sides and covered overhead, you can smell the ocean and feel the breeze from within the entire structure. Surprisingly, disorganization was at a minimum and few things were forgotten in the migration of all wedding guests and items to the new location. Stacy and Scott had planned an informal wedding with the groom and groomsmen in kakis and linen shirts (shoes optional) and the bridesmaids in loose-fitting tops and sarongs. The restaurant perfectly fitted the occasion and the ceremony took place as smooth as silk. Of course Stacy looked gorgeous and she beamed throughout the entire service. Probably the most unusual part of the ceremony was when one of the two photographers put down his camera, put on a clergy robe, conducted the ceremony, then discarded the outfit, and resumed taking photographs. That’s one very multi-talented fellow. Of course the ultimate punch line is that by the time the ceremony was over and the reception started the sun was back out and the sky blue and clear.
The reception was a perfect reflection of Scott and Stacy’s laid-back approach. The groomsmen and guests started buying shots for the wedding party as we took the final set of pictures, the food was terrific, and there was lots of dancing and laughing throughout the evening. We finished the evening with an invite to my cousins, and Dad and Mary, to come back to the beach house for an extended visit. We stayed up into the wee hours telling silly stories and catching on the past few years worth of events. I think it’s the first time the Lindenberg side of the family had a chance to visit for an extended period –ever.
The next morning was a bit rushed as we packed up the house and ourselves in preparation for checking out. I shudder to think of how much food we threw out –but its par for the course whenever we have a family vacation. My Mom’s flight wasn’t till late in the afternoon, so were able to go out for one last lunch together before we parted company. Our flight back to Kansas wasn’t until the next day, so we spent the day at a “theme” resort hotel, Camelot. The front desk personnel all wear Renaissance outfits and the hotel looks like a giant castle. By far the resort’s saving grace is its massive sets of pools: there were indoor and outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs, kiddie pools, a sandbox, and the ultimate: the slow river –a circuit pool that you lounge in via an inner tube and laze away the day. We even spent a little time on the beach. Our room was on the penthouse level (19th floor) with a balcony overlooking the ocean and a spectacular view. Pierce and Anna thought the best part of the hotel was the closet off the sitting room; they liked to pretend it was an elevator.
The end of our trip proved a little more exciting that we would have preferred. Our flight was canceled after we had already checked in and gone through security. So we ended up spending much of the day waiting in the Myrtle Beach airport for our new flight. Fortunately, we had purchased a portable DVD player for use in the beach house and it proved the perfect activity for Pierce and Anna during our wait. It was truly a novelty for Nora and me to be able to read on the plane while Pierce and Anna were occupied with a DVD (or two).
And now life’s pretty much back to normal. Come back soon for lots of beach and wedding pictures.
-Eric (Dad)
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