Earl Babbie PhotoJournal

                                        March 2008

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
						01
02 ASO Concert	03	04 Blizzard	05	06 Democratic Board Civitan	07 Blizzard Deux	08 Democratic State Convention
09	10	11	12	13 Fly to California	14 Pre-nuptuals	15 Portland delegation
16 The Wedding	17 Flying home	18 ASO in Little Rock	19 Key West	20 Key West	21 Key West	22 Key West
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31

March 02

Tonight was another Arkansas Symphony concert in Little Rock. The preview session
was as interesting as usual. This time, David Itkin was joined by composer Claude Baker.
The concert began with Baker's Lamentation, which David said was very good. Okay.
We can recognize our limitations, but we found the piece lamentable.



We really enjoyed Beethoven's Eroica Symphony during the second part of the concert.







March 04

Starting last night, we had a blizzard, which provided no end of winter photo ops.









Fortunately, by noon, Spring had arrived.



You can find more snow photos at:  http://gallery.mac.com/ebabbie#100099&bgcolor=black&view=grid





March 06

After the Democratic Club Board meeting, we had a Civitan meeting. Tonight, Tina Menzies
talked about Teen Challenge, a 14-month, faith-based residential program for drug and
alcohol abusers.







March 07

Starting last night, we had our second blizzard of the season. Cabin fever is rife.









March 08

Fortunately, the roads were clear enough for an early morning drive to Little Rock for the
State Democratic Convention. Our job was to pick the delegates who would represent
Arkansas at the National Convention in Denver.

While there were many moving moments (admittedly, I am easily moved), there was also
great confusion and misinformation. Moreover, our county (Garland) was outfoxed by some
better organized counties, and we ended up electing one alternate delegate. I was greatly
disappointed, but Suze and I looked at it as an opportunity to improve. Fortunately, neither
of us were candidates for delegate to the national convention.





(That's Bill Gwatney, state party chairman, holding up evidence of the job done by the Bush administration.)

Here's the picture that appeared in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.



Yes, I'm the bald guy beside the raven-haired beauty.





March 13

After an early-morning drive to Little Rock, we caught our flights to John
Wayne airport in Santa Ana, arriving around 12:30. With only carry-on
(including a hanging bag with wedding duds), we hit the ground running
and by 4:30, we had:


Then it was back to the hotel for dinner and some rest.





March 14

At 6:30 the next morning, we joined Carolyn and David Hauk for breakfast at
Watson's Drugstore in Orange. Suze anad Carolyn were docents together at the
Nixon Library.



After breakfast, we did some miscellaneous shopping in and around Orange, including some
of Suze's favorite thrift shops (well, and maybe a computer store or two). Then we had a lunch
at the Blue Frog just off the Orange Circle.

Shopped a little more after lunch and headed back to the hotel for a nap.

Had dinner tonight with Myron Yeager and Brad Smith at the Daily Grill, near our hotel.
I kept trying to recall where I had heard that name before, finally realizing they have the
dining room concession at the Westin in Portland.






March 15

Suze and I had a restful morning, saving up our energy for the arrival of Evelyn, Henry,
and their parents. 



As soon as they settled in their room, we all gathered in the lobby/restaurant for lunch,
and Aaron and I had a board meeting of Babbie Enterprises, Inc. He is now Vice President,
while Suze joined the Board and was elected Secretary/Treasurer.

Business done, everyone under 50 went for a swim with what seemed an Arctic breeze blowing
across the pool.



That evening, we caravanned to the Irvine Spectrum ("Where the 5 and 405 meet") for some
shopping and dinner. Despite our recent snow in Arkansas, we both throught it was cold as
anything. Didn't bother anyone under 10, however.








March 16

The big day finally arrived.

At 11:00 a.m. we arrived at the Wallace All Faiths Chapel at Chapman University to prep
the day's events. Ron Farmer was a great host and calming influence.

Early in the preparations, Suze's brother, Dwight, and his wife, Sandy, arrived from San
Diego as expected, but unexpectedly they brought with them brother David from Ludington, MI,
and his lady, Linda Parliament. David had called us this morning and said he and Linda were
in Georgia and wouldn't be able to attend the wedding. What a happy deception.



Now. . .let the good times roll.



Suze was the creator and producer of the event, and I am still in awe of her imagination and
organization. Here's the program for the event.

 
Beginning around 12:20, the pianist began playing some light classical and broadway pieces to
warm up the audience, while the wedding party moved to an ante room to wonder if anyone would
come. Our friends, Alyce Thomas and Carolyn Hauk, welcomed people at the door and handed out
programs.

With the violinist playing La Vie En Rose, my Best Man, Aaron, walked down the aisle to the front of
the chapel.  He was followed by Evelyn and Henry, designated flower distributors, who were herded
down the aisle by their mother and Matron of Honor, Ara.

<These video hot-links may take a little time to open up. While you wait, you might want to order
    a pizza, clean your garage, or learn a foreign language.>

<As an alternative, go to http://gallery.mac.com/ebabbie#100121&view=grid&bgcolor=black&sel=0
and click on the videos there>

Once the flower petals were properly spread down the aisle, the bagpiper marched forward, playing
Scotland, the Brave. He was followed by the laughing/crying bride and groom, hand in hand.

We ascended to the stage where Ron Farmer was waiting to get down to business. He welcomed
the audience of family and friends, mostly from the Nixon Library Docent Guild, Chapman's Town &
Gown (where we first met), and the Chapman faculty and administration.



Myron Yeager, my Chapman colleague and our very good friend, came to the dias and read some
love poems we had selected. That was followed by another violin solo: Dvorak's Songs My Mother
Taught Me.

Next, it was time for the bride and groom to recite their vows. Suze was great, and I made it almost
all the way through without sobbing for joy. Here are the vows.


Rings were exchanged, marital status was declared, prayers were prayed, and we could finally kiss.


 
Now it was time to PARTY!




The bagpiper led us out of the chapel, through the new piazza, and on to the reception.






(David seemed to have his eye on the sandwiches.)




(I really was happier than I look.)

After it was all complete, Aaron, Ara, and the kids took off for a movie, and a mid-evening
flight back to Portland. The newlyweds had a quiet evening in the hotel.

All in all, it was a very good day.




March 17

Early this morning, we checked out of the hotel and drove to John Wayne airport for an early
morning flight that had been cancelled as it turned out. So we enjoyed the Admiral's Club for
a few hours and finally flew to Dallas/Fort Worth, where we waited for a substitute connecting
flight to Little Rock, where we finally touched down after 11 p.m. We drove home, arriving a
bit after midnight.

Today, we learned an important lesson. As long as we were together, it was like a honeymoon.
A honeymoon in airport departure lounges to be sure but a honeymoon all the same.





March 18

After some sleep and repacking at home, we spent the day shopping in Little Rock, followed by
a chamber music concert that evening. It was a very enjoyable program, with some of the pieces
dramatically punctuated by lightning and thunder.


(Meredith Maddox is a superb violinist, whom we always enjoy.)

We spent the evening in a hotel near the Little Rock airport.






March 19

Okay, let the honeymoon begin. Early this morning, we began our two-legged trip from Little
Rock to Key West. Once again, we got to test the proposition that it's still a honeymoon, even
when your 3:15 flight is delayed in 20-30 minute increments until 6:00.  However, we were
eventually on the ground at the end of the Florida keys and settling into the southermost hotel
in the continental U. S. It was called, appropriately enough, the Southernmost Hotel.


(Our room was third from the far end on the second floor.)




March 20

Today was devoted to exploring this 2x4 mile island. Duval Street, near our hotel, is the main
drag through the old town. After walking along a bit of Duval, we found out way to Ernest
Hemingway's house. It was well packed with tourists, but it was nice to be in the space he
occupied and where he wrote many of his books.








(There are sixty cats living on the estate. I'm still not sure why.)


(This is Papa's desk and typewriter.)


After touring the Heminway House, we jumped aboard a bus tour, spent some time outside the
main art museum, and came back to the hotel for dinner.







There is evidently a lively cultural life in Key West, but Suze said we didn't have time for
all of it.





March 21

Today, we went back to the Key West Museum of Art and History to fully soak up some culture.
This particular museum featured what might be called Interactive Art--plus some Hemingway
stuff. This gives new meaning to "expose yourself to art."  Or is it, "expose art to yourself."













(Okay, so Hemingway had two typewriters.)

Back at the hotel, we soaked up a few rays. . .



. . .before going to dinner. We ate every dinner in this same restaurant beside the hotel.





March 22

Started the day with breakfast in the same restaurant. Here's a view from the restaurant
back at our room in the hotel.



The big event today was a visit to the Butterfly House.







Then it was time to head out to the airport for a late afternoon flight to Atlanta and on to
Little Rock.  Yeah, that's what they want you to think.  However, today's delays were less
than previous trips. And any time together, even in an airport lounge. . .yeah, yeah, it's a
honeymoon.  (Actually it was.)