Cameron Got Hitched

 Last weekend we made a whirlwind trip to Belmont, North Carolina, where, as I quipped to my students, we went to see my 6' 7" nephew marry his 4' 11" fiancée. Cameron and Jessica seem to be a very well matched couple in spite of the 20" height difference.

I announced here that Cameron had proposed to Jessica some 18 months ago (July 2019); a lengthy engagement so Jessica could finish graduate school. Of course, no one then suspected the pandemic would change the world by their wedding day. This was to be a much larger affair than it turned out to be with many of Jessica's relatives planning to fly here from the Philippines to attend. Travel restrictions forced them to watch the ceremony and reception via Facebook Live. And really, after Ben and Nate both had their brushes with the virus we are just thankful we weren't stuck at home doing the same thing.

I think the only major hiccup for us is that Vicki had found a really good deal on a VRBO for us to stay at and just days before we were set to arrive the owner of the home had to cancel our reservation due to a broken water heater. We wound up staying the first night in a hotel and the second night at the VRBO with the Jones family. It all worked out to be an unexpected blessing for us in many ways.

Traveling was uneventful. We picked Ben up in Cookeville as we passed through and dropped him off on the way home. We got to Belmont after dark Friday night, checked in to our hotel, and were looking for somewhere to eat supper when we got a text from Will and Darice asking if we wanted to come to the rehearsal dinner so that was a very pleasant surprise.

The wedding the next day began at 3:00 so our morning was pretty slow. When we arrived at the basilica on campus the wedding party were taking pictures on the front steps. We were glad the predicted rain held off. Jessica made a stunningly beautiful bride. Cameron cleans up well.

It was a very beautiful ceremony which included three Filipino wedding traditions in the Mass that were very special once I read the description provided in the program and understood the meaning. Jessica's brother sang throughout the Mass. He has a beautiful voice which added so much to the occasion. After the wedding we went to an area country club for the reception dinner and send off.

I feel like I am glossing over some of this; I don't mean to. I do want to note here that none of us had attended a Catholic wedding Mass before, so this was a new experience for all of us; also quite different from the Protestant weddings we are used to, so Jones family be prepared for something much shorter in September. As beautiful as all this was I think the parts that I treasure were the comments that I heard. You see, I am barely acquainted with Jessica, having only been around her Thanksgiving before last, and while I know Cameron, I really only know him as my nephew. My experience with Cameron has been through quick family visits where most of the time he was just one of the kids. We have talked some over the years but have not had the time to develop an adult level, in depth relationship. Those things will come and I look forward to that. I should be quick to add here that I grow relationships slowly for my part of it; that's just my nature.

So what I treasure from last weekend were all the comments and stories told on Cameron and Jessica by their friends in the wedding party at the rehearsal and reception dinners. Of course, I enjoyed hearing about the pranks and jokes, but then their friends got to the sincerity and depth of who Jessica and Cameron are as people. How Jessica was always willing to help a friend with their studies (all while teasing them about stereotyping her as a math whiz). How Cameron's roommate from Police Academy said from the heart that Cameron was always there when he needed a friend. The depth of friendship that Jessica cultivated with her friends. The fact that Jessica's friends noted that more than being a good boyfriend, Cameron was good husband material. The warm remarks the abbot said about them as he began the wedding. All these comments presented a clear picture as to the caliber of people that Cameron and Jessica are and it made me very happy.

So Cameron and Jessica, congratulations! I wish you all the best as you return from your honeymoon in Northern Arizona and settle down into life together. (By the way, one of our children--I will preserve anonymity so as not to embarrass our youngest--wondered if Catholics did honeymoons.) Pauline would be proud.

So the next wedding is in September. I'm glad Nolan came with us as he has now met with Emily's approval for Jenna, though I think he still has to face Cameron's police scrutiny to pass muster with him. Very interesting to see how Jessie and Pauline's little clan is starting to grow.

Joe