It was lovely....
I should begin with how great the wedding was....and it was! It was a non-stop affair from the moment I stepped off the plane until I went home. It was a short trip, from Thursday to Sunday, so there was a lot to do. Thankfully, I only had to help with the incidentals that simply took a bit of my time and freed up #1 son to do other things.
However, there were a few glitches. Like Allegiant Airlines. Really, you just can't fly to Austin from Albuquerque for less. It was less than $150, and there's no stick you can shake at that. SW would have been (at it's cheapest) $276. Having said that, when we landed, I couldn't figure out where we were....other than the fact they said we were in Austin, because we weren't at the airport I was expecting. Later I found out that the "south airport" is a new area for Allegiant. From there you are invited to take a 25 minute shuttle ride to the main airport. It was not a surprise that I enjoyed.
From there I went to the rental car building. As I'm walking up, I see that the only rental car counter with a line was Budget. There was only one person at the counter and a line of 6 people in front of me. That was another 45-minute wait. All of the other rental car counters were shooting people out to their rentals in 10 minutes or less. Made less enjoyable by the fact that I had to pee but because I was by myself, I didn't want to ask a stranger to hold my place in the line while I took care of business. Again, not enjoyable.
After that it was smooth sailing ~ my phone map/directions didn't take me to unknown parts of Austin as it did the last time I was there. I had a wonderful dinner with my soon to be daughter-in-law. I met her older (5 year old) son the next day as my son and I ran errands, had lunch, and hung out. He's an adorable kid. Tiny, with glasses. Very polite and nice. The next snag was at the reception.
My ex-husband and his wife were there (of course), and I had said the perfunctory "good to see you!" to him, but hadn't had a chance to say hello to his wife. I asked him and he told me she was "having difficulty" due to watching my son and his bride take their first communion together, which is a sore spot for her ~ she is Catholic, and my ex converted, but because he hadn't sent me the paperwork to annul our marriage, they are unable to participate in the sacraments. Which I have learned from my class is a very big deal to Catholics. I asked him if he was concerned I wouldn't sign (or whatever it is I have to do) and he said no, he's just been putting it off........for 10 years. So, I kind of had to laugh at that (not out loud of course), and was also just a bit annoyed that she would pick this particular event to become a pouty, unhappy woman. She walked out of the reception and didn't really come back, I assume because she didn't want to put a damper on the party?? Or something. Sheesh.
I know it sounds like I didn't have fun, but I truly enjoyed my visit. And was super happy to come home where the humidity level is 8-15%, and 74 degrees outside.
Love, 365
I'm diggin the white suit.
ReplyDeleteOooooh the Catholics and their weird rules. According to them, I'm a bastard even though my parents were married. Go figure.
I'm not catholic (you might already know, haha), but I was concerned about the illegitimacy issue. But I have done a little checking, and apparently it's not true ~ although it is a widespread rumor.
Delete**Legitimacy is a legal concept dealing primarily with inheritance. There is nothing illegitimate about children of an annulled marriage in the eyes of the Church. They can still receive the sacraments, i.e. they can be baptized, receive communion, get married or become a priest, receive confirmation, et cetera.
If you liked the suit, you should have seen the shoes, omg.
Sounded like a great time with just a few hiccups. Not bad. Now the Catholic thing. I was raised Catholic, came to my senses at 16 but had to hold off until I was no longer in my parents home to actually no longer deal with the cult...err church. But some churches will allow you taking the sacraments without an annulment. My 2nd cousin in a priest, his parish allows it. You meet with the priest and discuss and there is probably money involved because heaven knows they are always asking for money but it is now more acceptable than what this lady is claiming. In fact another cousin who got married and refused to pay for an annulment and bastardize his children was able to just go to a different priest and all was absolved. I again, would bet my life on a pay off of sorts. Or what they would call a donation. :-) It can be done but sometimes there are people who prefer to be a victim to make everyone else miserable.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the ex's wife prefers to be a victim...#2 son said that when they went to go spend a weekend with my ex and his wife, she was friendly and kind. Perhaps the church she attends is "old school" (snicker). As far as I'm concerned, the church can go suck an egg with all this annulment business. One of my co-workers is getting an annulment to her husband of over 20 years. He lost his job, and now prefers to sit around feeling sorry for himself and get drunk. If she can get an annulment for that, then I don't think it holds much weight.
DeleteBut children of annulled marriages are NOT considered illegitimate See above.
Yup, the Catholics have learned how to turn their religion into a money pit. I knew a guy who divorced his first wife and went to a different town 100 miles away, paid a bribe and his first marriage was ruled an annulment in the eyes of the church. Never mind that he had been married for years. BTW, was the new bride as shy as advertised? She looks lovely in your photo.
ReplyDeleteBased on having dinner with her (about 2 hours) and the wedding + reception, I believe her to be a very nice woman. But hey, I thought the same of his first wife, so only time will tell.
DeleteOh, do I appear cynical? Oops.
Welcome back home.
ReplyDeleteAll religions are cults in my book.
Some of them are a little more crazy than others, but still.
Nice wedding picture. Hope they'll be happy. And that you don't have to see Ms Whiny again.
I probably won't because if #1 son gets divorced again, I will not go to another wedding! The only two times I've ever seen her were at the weddings. I heard from my ex yesterday, he had a few questions for the "form". Guess it should come in a week or so. I'm not even reading it, I'm just signing and returning, because I -just-don't-care-anymore.
DeleteTruthfully, I think my ex is doing all this because he's a caring person who wants nothing more than to make other people happy. A nice quality. And also one of the reasons it didn't work for me. I just need that occassional conflict. Someone who bends over backwards for you all the time just isn't my cup of tea.
We have had good luck with Alamo for rental cars at the airports, I always reserve them ahead of time and have been happy with the prices compared to the others.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the wedding was wonderful, there are always snags but it sounds like the ones you had never hurt the trip. As for the Ex's and their spouses about all you can do is smile and nod your head.
Thank you for commenting on my blog this morning, I have enjoyed my visit here and added you to my follow list.
DeleteThank you for stopping in and commenting! And thanks for following..... :-)