We enjoyed breakfast this morning with the newly-betrothed Mark and Vanessa. After a seven-year romance, the pair plans June nuptials in Victoria, followed by a hoop-ti-doo at the KC Hall in Shakopee, a stumbling distance from our door. Mark is the distinguished and respected editor of the 150-year-old Chaska
Herald, a position held by Stan back in the 70s for about five years. We met Vanessa for the first time today. She has roots in Guyana, has worked in New York but is now employed in Lakeville. She and her brother live in Farmington. Mark, who hails from Thief River Falls, will see his extended family enlarge considerably as Vanessa has almost a dozen brothers and sisters and others living and working near here and in Canada. Breakfast talk included wedding plans, of course (three flower girls and a maid of honor at the Lutheran church), and catching up on the
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| Opie |
Chaska cast of characters known to Mark and Stan. Stan explained to Vanessa that Mark's innocence and resemblance to Mayberry's Ron Howard has earned him the nickname "Opie." (See his third grade photo which was among a mix of pix we dug out to fill her in a bit on Mark's past.) Stan and Kathleen like Vanessa a lot, but she especially endeared herself by insisting on taking multiple photographs of our dog. She promises to email the best one . . . and we'll post it here, of course.
And here it is: Thanks Vanessa!
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| Birdie |
