Colorado is gorgeous, especially with the sun shining on the snow-capped peaks as you drive to a wedding.

We went straight to the old freight station in Leadville, where John helped set up for the reception. I took a nap in the car, trying to recover from an altitude headache. This took me by surprise, since being in Denver twice had not been a problem. Someone said Leadville is the highest city in the US. I woke up hearing a train whistle and got out of the car in time for a shot of the engine. I should have known that John would sense it. He said someone took his photo as he watched the excursion train go past.

We went out to lunch with the parents of the bride, Carolyn and Eric. John and Eric are first cousins; their mothers were sisters. It was wonderful to have a special visit with them at this busy time.

As we left the restaurant, Carolyn pointed to a mountain and said that was where the bridal couple were. Anna and Eddie started hiking up the mountain at 6 am with friends. They hiked up and came down on skis. I suspect lots of people were relieved they all got down without breaking a leg. I don’t remember the name of the mountain, but it is the highest peak in the state.

The East coast relatives got here in time for a very short nap before we went to the rehearsal dinner. The New Yorkers had gotten up at 2:30 in the morning, and the ones from South Carolina at 4:20.

Carolyn said 150 people were coming for the wedding. As far as I know, not a one was local. The bride and groom picked Leadville because they had many happy memories of doing their extreme outdoor sports in that area. It was wonderful that the meal drew all of us together. As the crowd gathered, the cousins posed on the deck. Look at how the mountains tried to photo-bomb the shot!

After the meal, everyone sat inside to enjoy hearing friends of the couple speak about them. The question was, “What were your thoughts and feelings when you heard that Anna and Eddie had gotten engaged?” There were many comments about their meeting on an airplane, but that is where the romance began. As the friends talked, we began to get a mental picture of the couple. They are loving, caring people who have many friends and admirers. It was marvelous to be caught up in the love surrounding them.