Happy New Year!

Ringing in the New Year together is so great.

We're having a blast!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Rabbit Day

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit!

You Can Never Have Too Many

The Anatomy of a Saturday Morning Drive

Saturday Morning Drives have been a tradition now for the past eight or so years. Drives always begin with a Diet Coke and on average, start between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. They began quite by accident one morning as we drove to check out the new shopping center. The first store to be built was Target. We drove as far as the paved roads would allow and watched it grow from the first pouring of the slab to Opening Day. Kohl’s was next. There is always great speculation on what each new slab will become. We watched the cranes lower the brass domes upon the Barnes & Noble and saw the laying of the meandering cobblestone walkways. We saw the placement of the old town street lamps and were happy to see the preservation of the four mighty oaks at the main crossing. We've watched as they've raised and decorated the mighty Christmas tree, and marvel it always turns out so well after they’ve botched the pruning.

We have followed the same exact route every single time with no variance, until quite recently we decided to change things up a bit and drive it backwards. It was rather unsettling. We never miss a Saturday if it can be at all helped, and have even had welcome guests ride along. After eight years, you might think we'd seen it all. What more could they build? But even this morning, we saw the tractors clearing a new spot of land right next to Wicks. A woman's boutique closed and a Sees Candy just opened in its place. Bombay is going out of business... I wonder what they'll put in there.

Silver Anniversary

I've been married for 25 years to my very best friend...and it's even better today than it was it was all those years ago.

Happy, Happy Birthday, Sister Dear

Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister. No one could ask for a greater friend, a kinder spirit, or a better example. I love you! :)

Merry Christmas

With Santa making such a clatter on the roof, and Shadow not feeling well, and Tim getting us all up at 7:00 a.m., we're rather tired. But we've had a wonderful Christmas.

The Lundbear Family flew in from Vermont!

Katie... mid tree attack

Lights!

Tonight we traveled in Coach to see the lights of the town. There is a neighborhood nearby that is known as Candy Cane Lane. It's a strain on the power grid for sure, but really fun. We had a great time with hot cocoa that we made as we drove along, watched Charlie Brown's Christmas on the TV, and snuggled down with the quilts. Well, at least Tim and I enjoyed the movie and quilts... Doug always prefers to travel up front with Bob so he can see where he is going!

Puppy Love

Merry Christmas, from Shadow!

(click here)

A Ring of Truth

My sisters lost her diamond ring
Once or twice I think.
In fact the latest time
Was Wednesday of last week.

She’s lost it in her classroom.
She’s lost it in the sink.
She’s lost it in the bathroom drawer.
And even in the sheets.

My favorite was the day
We heard the cellphone ring.
We were on our way to Utah
And heard the craziest thing.

Seems Doug was on his way outside
Something shiny caught his eye.
He picked it up and placed a call
The words were something like…

Are you missing something special?
Something precious, gold, and round?
What are you implying?
My ring is safe and sound!

Are you sure you know right where it is
Your special wedding band?
Yes it’s safely in my pocket!
No its not, he said. It’s safely in my hand.

Bob Humbug

Hrmph. I really wish he'd waited until after Christmas (or even sometime next year), to tally my receipts! ;)

Three Days 'Til Christmas

We're making cookies today and watching A Very Brady Christmas. Of course, the boys don't know we're doing that, but I'm sure they won't mind...

Here's the Story...

Go ahead. Ask me. I'm an expert on all things Brady. I mean, it's almost like I was really there.

He Says, She Says

Today I heard a doctor state the following:

Mr. Smith* has had problems with his left knee for several years now. He says a few months, and his wife says a few years. He says he is having some limitation with walking and the wife says he cannot walk at all. He says he is having some pain and she says he is having a lot of pain.

It's probably just one of those not asking for directions kind of things.

(*name changed)

Follow me in merry measure...

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together...
Fa la la la laaa, la la, la laaaa.

O Tannenbaum

It's finally chopped down, lugged home, decorated, and lit ~ a 3 day ordeal every single year. We finally finished Tuesday night, plugged it in, and then... "Do you smell something burning?"

When we were kids, we had to hose off the tree and soak it in a bucket of water for an entire week before it was allowed inside the house. There was also the year the tree fell over and was held up with fishing line. I remember someone in the family realized those little green moving things in their tree weren't pine needles shimmering in the reflected light...they were worms. Zillions of them. Now that was funny and I'm still laughing! (And I do believe they've had an artificial tree ever since.) When we lived in Riverside, we had nine gouges in our ceiling ~ one for each year we lived there. A clear indication we had "heightage" issues.

And now with the HTC (Hamill Tree Chronicles), have you ever wished you were Jewish? Even just for a second? It would be so much easier.

Christmas In the Cave

Shadow is trying so hard to be good this year.

On A Clear Day

One of the two clear days a year, where you can see the snow on Mt. Baldy through the palm trees.

Be Good, For Goodness Sake

So that's how he does it! It's been that little felt elf all this time. We had them growing up... mine has a little white beard and currently resides on the TV cabinet downstairs. The upstairs (namely the cave) is covered by the little guy seen here. Apparently these little tattletales send daily reports to Santa!

The Three Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him." Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful." She said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

Ticead amhain go dti an Gaillaimh, le do thoil

One ticket to Galway please.

Sure'n Bob's home from Ireland (with an accent), and did bring me the fairest of gifts ~ a Gaelic edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and the complete UK series of Harry Potter. He's a man after me own heart.

Nil Gaeilge maith agam.... but I do know how to say, "An dtogann tu caratai credit?"

Ding-a-ling!

The Golden Bell Awards program, now in its 28th year, promotes excellence in education by recognizing outstanding programs in school districts and county offices of education throughout California. Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs necessary to address students’ changing needs.

And I got one! For "Outstanding ELR Program" for my Library!

Thankyou.Thankyouverymuch.

A Wee Bit of Blarney

It's away to the Old Country today. Bob flies to Galway, Ireland for 10 days on business. Poor man.

Happy Birthday Bob!

And if the Patriots win tonight, then it'll be his best birthday ever!

Let There Be Lights

Jim-Across-the-Street started at the crack of dawn... the fiend!... but ours were up in record time.

C'mon, Get Happy!

How can you have known me for all these many years... and not known of my obsession?

My Tree

Who says we don't have fall in Southern California? My pear tree has red leaves this year! This is all very exciting. Okay, so it's just a patch, but I'm proud.

What the Cluck?

It seems like Christmas is coming earlier and earlier. Last night the lighting war began and some guy in the next neighborhood has his lights up and on! Jim (across the street) and Bob have always had a friendly rivalry over who gets the job done first, but c'mon! It's not even Thanksgiving yet!

Channeling

Mom? Is that you?

MAJ

As does this one...

Granny Cleaning

I think this speaks for itself...

Signs of November

Dad's paperwhites bloomed this morning! They bloom every year at this time... sometimes they've even bloomed on Thanksgiving morning. The bulbs have really thinned out this year... I think Jose and Jose (yard guys) have done a number on them.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Sue, who's as close to a sister as any friend could get.

(And oh my goodness, who is that adorable puppy sitting right next to her?)

Soooda. S-O-D-A Soooda.

I've come to a conclusion about sodas. After much experimentation and conjecture, thoughtful and not so thoughtful analysis.... I've decided it's not so much the soda itself, but the experience of going out to get one. That, and it makes me happy.

Happy Birthday, Dad

¿Usted habla español?

When Papa was really beginning to slip, he started speaking Spanish. Now, Papa didn't really know Spanish. He was only a boy when he'd taken a few classes, but he started speaking Spanish, full conversations, making absolutely no sense whatsoever. We'd come over to visit... "¡Hola Papa!" Grandma would say, "Oh don't encourage him!" Well, Bob couldn't help himself and would sit down at the kitchen table with Papa and have long conversations with him. Papa enjoyed himself immensely! Seeing Grandma's disquiet, I said to him, "Dad, mom really doesn't like it when you speak Spanish." His reply... in perfect English, "Precisely!"

The Editor

When Papa officially retired from the school district, he returned to the world of editing for a short time, becoming an editor of the Personal Journal. (While at BYU he was editor of The Daily Universe). He was asked to be a model for one of the articles and made the cover! He's wearing one of my favorite outfits. And his eyes... his blue eyes...

Bishop Jack

Shadow Puppy

How can you not fall in love with this beautiful puppy? Isn't she the most precious thing you've ever seen? She's just too cute and so smart. She knows over 200 words and can actually spell 'treat' and 'cheese'! She's also very depressed right now, constantly sighing. She misses 'daddy'. I think she can spell that too. (And do feel free to use this picture for your computer desktop. Shadow won't mind).

Special Memories

Papa's birthday is coming up this next week ~ Saturday, November 10th. I love this picture of him and Carrie taken on one of my favorite Thanksgivings.

And So Much More

We had a great time with Uncle Del. He came on the 30th and left just this morning. We carved pumpkins, he tried to convince us of the merits of buttermilk with a touch of salt and pepper (no thanks), and we introduced him to the world of Stargate. (Here's a picture of him freezing to death watching TV). He and the boys also made some great progress on their special project, which is really going to be something amazing.

.....

Bob leaves tomorrow (Sunday) for Salt Lake City. He'll be there until Friday on business and will be staying with Brent and Carolyn. Shadow is going to have a fit ~ and of course, we'll miss him too! ;)

.....

What are we without a Diet Coke in our hands? There is nothing like a fountain soda. Nothing. McDonalds fed our habit with a summer long 69 cent extra large fountain drink. Bliss. But those days are gone and the price trippled. Which is why we're now in the business of making our own! The kitchen is a total fizzy mad scientist lab right now, but the stuff is great! I'm serious!

Check this out: http://www.sodaclubusa.com/.

100 Pieces of Candy

A day or two before Halloween:

Suzie: Do you think you'll have enough candy?
Diane: Oh yes. We've got 100 pieces.
Suzie: Oh. That's all?
Diane: That's alot!
Suzie: You'd better go get more. I've got like 500 pieces. At least. You've got to count for snitching. And possibly people you know. Like the kid next door. You can't just give them one skimpy piece of candy.

Halloween night.... sounds of doorbells ringing:

Suzie: Did you get more candy?
Dave: No. We've got 100 pieces! And it's KitKats. Everyone loves KitKats.
Suzie: Oh. Well, good luck with that.
Dave: We'll have plenty.
Suzie: If you say so. I've got 500 pieces. At least.

20 minutes later....

Diane: Dave's gone to get more candy.
Suzie: Ha!

Cell phone rings... talking to Diane in my left ear and Dave in my right:

Dave: Well, you're right. I'm on my way to buy more candy.
Diane: He says he hates it when you're right.
Suzie to Dave: Told you so.
Diane: I've had to turn away 25 kids since he's been gone.

Dave returned home with 80 more pieces, and the Hamills ran out of candy again. The Lundbergs had about 350 pieces leftover. At least. Don't tell Dave.

All Hallows' Eve

Halloween.
Sly does it. Tiptoe catspaws. Slide and creep.
But why? What for? How? Who? When!
Where did it all begin?
“You don’t know, do you?”
asks Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud
climbing out of the pile of leaves under the Halloween Tree.
“You don’t really know!”
~Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree

The Price We Pay

Last month we shook a bit more than usual, stood in doorways, and refilled our water barrels. Today, ash is everywhere. It's hard to breath, your eyes water, the wind is howling, and the sky is bright orange. But on a positive note, in Southern California the weather is usually such that you can wear shorts or a sweatshirt on the very same day, be in the mountains or at the beach within 45 minutes, and on a clear day (once or twice a year) you can see forever.

Spooktacular!

Uncle Del arrives on the 30th! We'll be carving pumpkins and making chili and getting ready for night of Spookables! Wish you were all here!

To learn about the history of Halloween (Tim and Suzie's favorite holiday), read more!



The History of Halloween

Samhain. All Hallows. All Hallow’s Eve. Hallow E’en. Halloween. The most magical night of the year. Exactly opposite Beltane on the wheel of the year, Halloween is Beltane’s dark twin. A night of glowing jack-o’-lanterns, bobbing for apples, tricks or treats, and dressing in costume. A night of ghost stories and séances, tarot card readings and scrying with mirrors. A night of power, when the veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is at its thinnest. A “spirit night”, as they say in Wales.

All Hallow’s Eve is the eve of All Hallow’s Day (November 1). And for once, even popular tradition remembers that the eve is more important than the day itself, the traditional celebration focusing on October 31, beginning at sundown. And this seems only fitting for the great Celtic New Year’s festival. Not that the holiday was Celtic only. In fact, it is startling how many ancient and unconnected cultures (the Egyptians and pre-Spanish Mexicans, for example) celebrated this as a festival of the dead. But the majority of our modern traditions can be traced to the British Isles.

The Celts called it Samhain, which means “summer’s end”, according to their ancient twofold division of the year, when summer ran from Beltane to Samhain and winter ran from Samhain to Beltane. (Some modern covens echo this structure by letting the high priest “rule” the coven beginning on Samhain, with rulership returned to the high priestess at Beltane.) According to the later fourfold division of the year, Samhain is seen as “autumn’s end” and the beginning of winter. Samhain is pronounced (depending on where you’re from) as “sow-in” (in Ireland), or “sow-een” (in Wales), or “sav-en” (in Scotland), or (inevitably) “sam-hane” (in the U.S., where we don’t speak Gaelic).

Not only is Samhain the end of autumn; it is also, more importantly, the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Celtic New Year’s Eve, when the new year begins with the onset of the dark phase of the year, just as the new day begins at sundown. There are many representations of Celtic Gods with two faces, and it surely must have been one of them who held sway over Samhain. Like his Roman counterpart Janus, he would straddle the threshold, one face turned toward the past, in commemoration of those who died during the last year, and one face gazing hopefully toward the future, mystic eyes attempting to pierce the veil and divine what the coming year holds. These two themes, celebrating the dead and divining the future, are inexorably intertwined in Samhain, as they are likely to be in any New Year’s celebration.

As a feast of the dead, this was the one night when the dead could, if they wished, return to the land of the living, to celebrate with their family, tribe, or clan. And so the great burial mounds of Ireland (sidhe mounds) were opened up, with lighted torches lining the walls, so the dead could find their way. Extra places were set at the table and food set out for any who had died that year. And there are many stories that tell of Irish heroes making raids on the Underworld while the gates of faery stood open, though all must return to their appointed places by cockcrow.

As a feast of divination, this was the night par excellence for peering into the future. The reason for this has to do with the Celtic view of time. In a culture that uses a linear concept of time, like our modern one, New Year’s Eve is simply a milestone on a very long road that stretches in a straight line from birth to death. Thus, the New Year’s festival is a part of time. The ancient Celtic view of time, however, is cyclical. And in this framework, New Year’s Eve represents a point outside of time, when the natural order of the universe dissolves back into primordial chaos, preparatory to reestablishing itself in a new order. Thus, Samhain is a night that exists outside of time and, hence, it may be used to view any other point in time. At no other holiday is a tarot card reading, crystal reading, or tealeaf reading so likely to succeed.

The Christian religion, with its emphasis on the “historical” Christ and his act of Redemption 2000 years ago, is forced into a linear view of time, where seeing the future is an illogical proposition. In fact, from the Christian perspective, any attempt to do so is seen as inherently evil. This did not keep the medieval church from co-opting Samhain’s other motif, commemoration of the dead. To the church, however, it could never be a feast for all the dead, but only the blessed dead, all those hallowed (made holy) by obedience to God—thus, All Hallow’s, or Hallowmas, later All Saints and All Souls.

There are so many types of divination that are traditional to Hallowstide, it is possible to mention only a few. Girls were told to place hazelnuts along the front of the firegrate, each one to symbolize one of her suitors. She could then divine her future husband by chanting, “If you love me, pop and fly; if you hate me, burn and die.” Several methods used the apple, that most popular of Halloween fruits. You should slice an apple through the equator (to reveal the five-pointed star within) and then eat it by candlelight before a mirror. Your future spouse will then appear over your shoulder. Or, peel an apple, making sure the peeling comes off in one long strand, reciting, “I pare this apple round and round again; / My sweetheart’s name to flourish on the plain: / I fling the unbroken paring o’er my head, / My sweetheart’s letter on the ground to read.” Or, you might set a snail to crawl through the ashes of your hearth. The considerate little creature will then spell out the initial letter as it moves.

Perhaps the most famous icon of the holiday is the jack-o’- lantern. Various authorities attribute it to either Scottish or Irish origin. However, it seems clear that it was used as a lantern by people who traveled the road this night, the scary face to frighten away spirits or faeries who might otherwise lead one astray. Set on porches and in windows, they cast the same spell of protection over the household. (The American pumpkin seems to have forever superseded the European gourd as the jack-o’- lantern of choice.) Bobbing for apples may well represent the remnants of a Pagan “baptism” rite called a seining, according to some writers. The water-filled tub is a latter-day Cauldron of Regeneration, into which the novice’s head is immersed. The fact that the participant in this folk game was usually blindfolded with hands tied behind the back also puts one in mind of a traditional Craft initiation ceremony.

The custom of dressing in costume and “trick-or-treating” is of Celtic origin, with survivals particularly strong in Scotland. However, there are some important differences from the modern version. In the first place, the custom was not relegated to children, but was actively indulged in by adults as well. Also, the “treat” that was required was often one of spirits (the liquid variety). This has recently been revived by college students who go ‘trick-or-drinking’. And in ancient times, the roving bands would sing seasonal carols from house-to-house, making the tradition very similar to Yuletide wassailing. In fact, the custom known as caroling, now connected exclusively with Midwinter, was once practiced at all the major holidays. Finally, in Scotland at least, the tradition of dressing in costume consisted almost exclusively of cross-dressing (i.e., men dressing as women, and women as men). It seems as though ancient societies provided an opportunity for people to “try on” the role of the opposite gender for one night of the year. (Although in Scotland, this is admittedly less dramatic—but more confusing—since men were in the habit of wearing skirtlike kilts anyway. Oh well...)

To Witches, Halloween is one of the four High Holidays, or Greater Sabbats, or cross-quarter days. Because it is the most important holiday of the year, it is sometimes called “The Great Sabbat”. It is an ironic fact that the newer, self-created covens tend to use the older name of the holiday, Samhain, which they have discovered through modern research. While the older hereditary and traditional covens often use the newer name, Halloween, which has been handed down through oral tradition within their coven. (This often holds true for the names of the other holidays, as well. One may often get an indication of a coven’s antiquity by noting what names it uses for the holidays.)

With such an important holiday, Witches often hold two distinct celebrations. First, a large Halloween party for non- Craft friends, often held on the previous weekend. And second, a coven ritual held on Halloween night itself, late enough so as not to be interrupted by trick-or-treaters. If the rituals are performed properly, there is often the feeling of invisible friends taking part in the rites. Another date that may be utilized in planning celebrations is the actual cross-quarter day, or Old Halloween, or Halloween O.S. (Old Style). This occurs when the sun has reached fifteen degrees Scorpio, an astrological “power point” symbolized by the Eagle. The celebration would begin at sunset. Interestingly, this date (Old Halloween) was also appropriated by the church as the holiday of Martinmas.

Of all the Witchcraft holidays, Halloween is the only one that still boasts anything near to popular celebration. Even though it is typically relegated to children (and the young-atheart) and observed as an evening affair only, many of its traditions are firmly rooted in Paganism. Incidentally, some schools have recently attempted to abolish Halloween parties on the grounds that it violates the separation of state and religion. Speaking as a Pagan, I would be saddened by the success of this move, but as a supporter of the concept of religion-free public education, I fear I must concede the point. Nonetheless, it seems only right that there should be one night of the year when our minds are turned toward thoughts of the supernatural. A night when both Pagans and non-Pagans may ponder the mysteries of the Otherworld and its inhabitants. And if you are one of them, may all your jack-o’-lanterns burn bright on this All Hallow’s Eve.

And the award goes to...

"I just want to thank everybody

I've ever met in my entire life.''

Ode to Whiskers

Felis Cattus, is your taxonomic nomenclature, an endothermic quadruped carnivorous by nature?

Your visual, olfactory and auditory senses contribute to your hunting skills, and natural defenses.

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations, a singular development of cat communications that obviates your basic hedonistic predilection for a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection.

A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents; you would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.

And when not being utilized to aide in locomotion, it often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.

O Whiskers, the complex levels of behaviour you display connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.

And though you are not sentient, Whiskers, and do not comprehend, I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.

אױ װײ

Or in other words, "Oy vey!"

Saturday was not my favorite day. However, it was totally not my fault!

And should we die before our journey's through...

Suzie: Oh.my.gosh. We’re gonna die.
Diane: I don’t think we’re going to die.
Suzie: How many miles is this?
Diane: A lot. We might die.

MaryAnn: What on earth do they think they’re doing?
Thomas: I think they’re about to hike that trail.
MaryAnn: Surely not.
Thomas: (Shaking his head in disbelief).
MaryAnn: We trekked all that way just to have them drive back and die?

Suzie: I’ve got to finish this. I don’t want our ancestors to think I’m, you know, a wimp.
Diane: I think they already know.

Though hard to you this journey may appear...

Fourth cousin 7 times removed: My daughter is crying because she can't be here.
Suzie: Please tell her I'm crying because I am.

Happy day! All is well!