We Got Hitched!

Shannon and I got married on October 25, 2008 in Herrin Illinois. It was exactly what a person wants their wedding to be like. Shannon and I were surrounded by the people we care about most in the world, the planning paid off to create an elegant and memorable event, and even the weather cooperated.
Shannon and I flew on the Tuesday before our wedding to Rome then to Chicago and drove down to Herrin, a 20 hour trip where everything was on time and all of our luggage arrived unspoiled. On Wednesday we battled severe jet-lag and took care of last minute details because the first guests arrived in Southern Illinois on Thursday.
Malcolm and Carol Zwick are renowned for being the greatest of hosts. On Thursday they more than lived up to their reputation with the fantastic dinner and cocktail party they put together for us. We were treated to prime rib, homemade raviolis and more than a few spirits. It was the first planned event of the weekend and an opportunity for many people to meet.
On Friday the men and women went their respective luncheons in the country. The women went to Blue Sky vineyards, also the site of Greg and Rebekkah Wedding Reception last year. The Men went to Hedman’s Vineyard, a Swedish vineyard in restaurant in Alto Pass. The fellows ate traditional Scandinavian food and drank wine made from the grapes of the vineyard.
Friday night we had the rehearsal where it was revealed that I did not have my lines memorized yet, but the run-through was largely successful. The dinner to follow was at the finest restaruant in Southern Illinois. Mary’s was the site of my proposal 10 months before and now a venue with more great memories after the grand meal that was prepared for us.
Saturday was the big day. My morning was spent watching College Gameday with my groomsmen. The limo picked up the tuxedoed chaps at 12:45 and we arrived at the church to begin the first of many sessions of pictures for the day.

I will always remember the doors opening at the back of the church and Shannon emerging from the light. The ceremony included many loved ones standing or reading and very importantly, I didn’t forget what I was supposed to say or faint.
Afterwards everyone went to Kokopelli country club. Bagpipes serenaded the guests during the cocktail hour. The dinner and reception was great. The food was outstanding, the Sicilian wine was tasty and the band was entertaining. Looking around the room it was obvious the guests were enjoying themselves. People danced, the Father of the Bride sang, and Michigan State beat Michigan in football. Perfect.
The next morning there was a brunch at Mary’s where people joined in arrived in various states of exhaustion. Shannon and I opened our gifts, said our goodbyes and headed back up to Chicago.

We stayed in the city for a few nights taking care of some business at the Navy base there and tying up other loose ends. Chicago is where Shannon and I met and fell in love. Returning for the first time in more than a year we both realized how much we missed the skyline, the restaurants and our friends.
We returned to Sicily exhausted and happy.

Visitors

Sicily is different from the rest of Italy. This is a point of pride for the Sicilian people and the rest of Italy is fine with the arrangement as well. I can’t speak any Italian, but I understand the Sicilian dialect is so different they have difficulty communicating with people from other regions. Because Sicily is an island and only about the size of Vermont, they never developed the mass transportation system the rest of Italy has. As a result, when nine American students came to stay with us this weekend, we had to rent a big van to get everybody around.
The Marchesanis are family friends of the Murphys and Kate and Shannon grew up hanging out together. Kate is studying in Rome for a term and she brought eight of her friends to stay with Shannon and I in Aci Trezza. They were a good group of kids from all over the US. They enjoyed the good weather here and spent a lot of time at the harbor kayaking and getting some sun. On Saturday we piled everyone in the van and drove them up to Taormina where they had a chance to do some shopping, see some ruins and enjoy the spectacular day. Back in Aci we introduced them to local food and drink at some of our favorite restaurants and watering holes. Like I used to in college, they had no problem just sleeping all over the place; Couches, Floors, Chairs etc. Live football and Miller Lite are apparently not easy to come by in Roman dorm rooms and our guests seemed pleased to have a little taste of home for a weekend.
Last weekend Shannon had to work a 24 hour shift on Saturday so I was left to entertain myself for a while. That evening I hooked up with the fellas from Aci Trezza going into Catania for some fun. Catania is an old city with a university, museums and a famous theater but I didn’t see any of those that night. The city also has bars, lounges and clubs like any other city and they were all plenty crowded with young people on a Saturday Night.
Earlier that week Shannon and I went into Catania with some friends for some Chinese food. In Washington DC, Shannon and I had cuisine from all over the world within walking distance of us. In Sicily most restaurants serve Italian food (shocking), Chinese food is a novelty and you have to go into the city to find it. There is a drive involved but as James pointed out, it is universally “cheap as dirt.” The food was good, as far as Chinese food goes, but the oddest part of the experience is having a room full of Asians all speaking Italian.