Arthur and Emma

Ellen and I ventured out yesterday afternoon to the first social event we have attended for some time - the wedding of Arthur Davis and Emma Schneider, which was held at the Dummerston Center Grange. Arthur is the son of our dear friends, Andy and Robin Davis. I have a long connection with this family - Shirley and I married Andy and Robin 31 years ago - and the "reception" after that wedding took place in the same spot - the Dummerston Grange and the Commons across the road. Arthur was baptized by Shirley (11/29/1992) and he grew up in the Guilford Church. Arthur figures in a wonderful children's story, told by his dad, Andy, about the awe which struck Arthur when, as a three-year-old, he encountered a giant sculpture of two whale's tails up off I-91 in central Vermont.

Andy holding up a picture of Arthur looking at the awesome whale's tails.********************************* Arthur has grown up into the loveliest young man you would ever want to meet, and Emma seems to be the perfect life partner. They have been a couple for some time, and have been living together in a house they bought in Brattleboro for a couple years or so, and I think wanted to get married earlier, but the COVID pandemic delayed that. Yesterday they finally were able to make it official. COVID was a reality still, however. Ellen finally tested negative yesterday morning, but I was still positive, so we kept apart from others. There is a balcony at the Grange which is quite separate from the main floor - so we went up there - and low and behold, there were Peter and Mary Alice Amidon, who also have COVID! Sort of our own little leper colony up there. After the wedding we did sit out on the green to see the Morris Dancing (Arthur is a Morris Dancer) and we talked a bit with a couple of friends = masked, outside, and distanced - that felt okay. We did not stay for supper. It was a lovely wedding, and we were very happy to be there.

Our vantage-point up in the balcony.

A group of Arthur and Emma's friends singing the song, "All the Salt" by Jess Arrowsmith.

Arthur and Emma exchanging vows.

Processing out at the end of the service.

Morris Dancers on the Dummerston Green.

The guests enjoying refreshments and signing the wedding contract on the green.