Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
OUR WEDDING
New York City and Washington, D.C.
29 FE
B R UA RY
2008
Contents
{1}
Engagement photos
Lincoln Memorial
{7}
Arrival & preparation
{ 17 }
Times Square
Arriving at the temple
{ 27 }
Luncheon
{ 43 }
Broadway
Marriage is a friendship that blows away the chaff and takes the grain; that says I accept you as a unique person, and I love you and respect you in your personality, and I will protect you, and Ill listen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
DEDICATION To my lovely wife, Susan, whom I love more deeply with every passing day.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
{ 63 }
Central Park
{ 87 }
Subway
{ 95 }
Reception
Washington, D.C.
{ 119 }
Qubec
Thanks to all those who took pictures at our wedding, reception, and related events and whose photos appear hereinyour work is beautiful; the memories, priceless.
Tania and Randy Blue Andrea Braswell Matthew Brownell Rebecca Foster Bob Gump and Karen Hibdon David Hibdon Fulton Taylor, Sr. Andrada Tomoaia-Cotisel
Panoramic photo of New York City above and on dust jacket by Daniel Schwen, 6 December 2005. Used under terms of the photos Creative Commons license, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NYC_Top_of_the_Rock_Pano.jpg. Photo of Manhattan New York Temple on frontispiece The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Used in this personal, noncommercial context under the licensing terms found at http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/rights-usage-information.
Engagement photos
LINCOLN MEMORIAL
24 DECEMBER 2007
O u r We d d i n g
ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
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The skyline of Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia, rises behind us, over Roosevelt Island, the Roosevelt Bridge, and the Potomac River.
ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
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of the railyard then quickly gained speed as it made its way up the Northeast Corridor. Through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Trenton we sped, across the countryside of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey on the way to our destinationNew York City. We were officially off to get married! We arrived at New Yorks Pennsylvania Station a little over three hours later, at 11.18. We hopped aboard the 1/2/3 line of the New York City Subway and traveled uptown one stop, to Times Square-42 St. That was where we would find our hotel, the Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square at 1568 Broadway. Dustin anxiously checked in and went to his room. In making the reservation online, he had included a note indicating that the stay was for his own wedding and asking, if possible, for an extra-special room. And the hotel delivered! They had put him in room 3903. It was a corner room, with wraparound windows that offered stunning views up 7th Avenue to Central Park, of the Hudson River to the west, of Times Square below, and of the tops of the skyscrapers all around. The suite had a sitting area, a dining table, a separate bedroom, and two bathrooms. It was far nicer than we had expected. That evening, Susans parents took us and everyone already in New York for the weddingKaren, Bob, M.H.G., C.H.G., Matt H., Matthew B., and Rebeccaout to eat at Our Place Shanghai Tea Garden, a Chinese restaurant at 141 East 55th Street. The food was good, but the company on the night before our wedding was best of all.
8.10 ON THURSDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2008, Amtrak train number 56, the Vermonter,
departed from Washingtons Union Station. We were on board, along with Susans sister and brother-in-law and their children. The train slowly pulled out
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C.H.G.
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Our hotel, the Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square, 1568 Broadway West 47th Street to the Hudson River
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C.H.G.
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Susan wasnt sure what jewelry would best match her wedding dress, so she bought gobs of it shortly before we went to New York City. The night before our wedding she and Rebecca selected some items for her to wear. Susan returned the rest of it when we got back to Washington, D.C.
RIGHT
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Times Square
ARRIVING AT THE TEMPLE
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29 FEBRUARY 2008
HE MORNING Of
wedding. The prior evening had ended pleasantly enoughafter dinner, we went our separate ways, Susan with Rebecca, Dustin with his buddies, for one last night
out on the town as single people. (Dustin, Matt, and Matthew had ice cream on the Lower East Side; Susan and Rebecca got a Diet Coke at Duane Reade and selected jewelry.) The morning, too, began smoothly. Then Matthew B., who had spent the night in Dustins awesome 39th-floor suite at the Doubletree Times Square and was now ironing the shirt in which Dustin would get married, noticed a problem: the iron had rusted, and faint brownish orange stains were rubbing off on to the shirt. Dustin called the hotels front desk to request a replacement iron, which, he was informed, should arrive shortly. But it never came. So Dustin ran down to Susan and Rebeccas room and borrowed the iron there. All of which made Dustin and Matthew late in meeting everyone in the hotels lobby. That meant that we all risked being late to the temple, which had requested that we arrive an hour early. So we made a mad, Home Alone-esque dash across Times Square. With the two of us in the lead and everyone else in tow, we made it to the subway in record time. Then the unthinkable happened. The fare machines at that particular entrance to the Times Square-42 St subway station werent accepting credit or debit cards. Cash only. A problem for two people like us who never carry cash. The one thing we never thought would fail usthe subwaywas now delaying our arrival at the temple. Then Susans family realized something: they still had value on their MetroCards, and they could pass them back to us. It worked, and within moments we were happily speeding along on the 1 train under Broadway uptown to 66 St-Lincoln Center.
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TIMES SQUARE
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TIMES SQUARE
The technical glitch caused some backups. We are in the background, with Rebecca at the ticket machine; Matthew B. is at left. Note that the machines advise this time cash only.
Mary, C.H.G., Karen, and David wait for us beyond the faregates.
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TIMES SQUARE
On the New York City Subways 1 train (note the line diagram in the background) going uptown from Times Square-42 St to 66 St-Lincoln Center
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On Broadway outside the temple. Lincoln Centers Avery Fisher Hall, home of the New York Philharmonic, rises behind us.
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TIMES SQUARE
Outside the interior doors to the Manhattan New York Temple. We made it! O u r We d d i n g 26
Luncheon
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HORTLY AfTER
wife for time and eternity by Leeman Lloyd Perkins, temple sealer, in the Manhattan New York Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In sealing us,
Brother Perkins spoke briefly about the significance of the Restorationthat Joseph Smiths prophetic mission and the restoration of the sealing power enabled us to be there that day. After our sealing, we held a luncheon for everyone who was in New York with us. The Manhattan New York Temple (with the Hong Kong China Temple) is currently one of just two temples in the Church that occupy only a portionthe upper floorsof the building theyre in. A meetinghouse and the Churchs New York public affairs office occupy the lower levels. We held the luncheon in a room at the northwest corner of the third floor that is often used as a Relief Society or Sunday school classroom. That meant that all our family and friends who had come to New York were able to join us within the walls of the temple. We entered the room to spontaneous applause. Susan called on MaryAnn to offer a blessing on the food. Then we treated everyone to some of the best soups, salads, and sandwiches youll find, from Pret A Manger. After people had largely finished eating, Susan and Dustin walked around and gave everyone small individual jars of personalized M&Ms with our names and wedding date on them. We also gave each person or family a copy of New York New York, a book of photographs of New York City by Richard Berenholtz, with a personal note from us written inside the front cover. Then, spontaneously, beginning with Scott and proceeding clockwise around the tables we had set up in a hollow square, everyone spoke about what we meant to them. Lunch, the book, and the M&Ms were our gifts to them; their words were their gift to us.
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PARENTS
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LUNCHEON
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FAMILY
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LUNCHEON
Amanda
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FRIENDS
LUNCHEON
Dale Philip
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LUNCHEON
Randy
LUNCHEON
Tania
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LUNCHEON
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LUNCHEON
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Broadway
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HE LUNCHEON ENDED
and went out for the days next activity: photos. Our sealing didnt end quite so glitchlessly. Unlike marriage ceremonies in other churches, exchanging rings is not
a formal part of a Mormon temple wedding. We did, however, plan to exchange rings in the sealing room immediately after the ordinance, per the Churchs guidelines. To make sure the rings were ready, Dustin had given them to Matthew B. before arriving at the temple. At the end of the sealing, we stood at the door of the sealing room and bid goodbye (in a manner of speaking; we were, after all, going to see everyone immediately afterwards at the luncheon) to all who had attendedDustins mother and stepfather, Tania and Randy; Sam and MaryAnn; Scott and Michelle; Rebecca; Matt H.; and Dale. And Matthew B., who, of course, had our rings. So, a moment later, we asked Brother Perkins, the sealer, What about the rings? He called everyone backthey were all already down at the end of the halland we thought, We dont really need everyone to watch this; we just want to exchange the rings! But it got the job done, and we were duly married, with the evidence on our left hands to prove it. After the luncheon, we went out to a traffic island on Broadway to take some large group photos with the temple as the backdrop. We then walked east on West 65th Street and a little north on Central Park West to take photos in Central Park. The long procession of our family and friends was quite a sight. All along the way, we got looks from passersby and even a few comments. Some people offered their congratulations, while others called out, Dont do it! To which we replied, Too late!
MaryAnn, Dustin, Susan, and Amanda on Central Park West. Tania and Randy follow. O u r We d d i n g 44
Rebecca
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BROADWAY
Sam and MaryAnn, Philip, Matt H., Dustin, David, Susan, Scott, Mary, C.H.G. and M.H.G., Dale, Amanda, Martin, Tania, Karen, Randy, Bob, Rebecca, Heather, and Matthew B.
Mary, Philip, Matthew B., Karen, C.H.G., David, Dustin, and Susan
As we were getting organized for the large group photo, this man, who is a member of the Church, came up and spoke to us.
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BROADWAY
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BROADWAY
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BROADWAY
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BROADWAY
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MaryAnn, Dustin, Susan, and Amanda on Central Park West. Andrea, right, snaps a photo while Tania and Randy follow. 55 Susan & Dustin
BROADWAY
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BROADWAY
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BROADWAY
Thats not how you hold it! MaryAnn shows Dustin how properly to hold the train of Susans wedding dress.
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BROADWAY
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Central Park
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Lincoln Center formed a break in the walls of the concrete canyons that surrounded us, which allowed the warmth of the afternoon sunshine to stream down. It wasnt until we walked over to Central Park that we realized just how cold Leap Day in New York City could be. And that is to say, very. Frederick Law Olmsteds great masterpiece was sure to form a dramatic backdrop for some additional wedding photos. We felt the best spot for these photos would be the Sheeps Meadow, an expanse of grass where one can see the modern and postmodern geometry of midtowns towers break to make way for the natural (though sculpted) irregularity of Central Parks canopy. From Central Park West to the Sheeps Meadow we proceeded, only to find locked gates with signs indicating that some sort of hazardous chemicalinsecticide, fertilizer, or something similarhad recently been sprayed and that the meadow was subsequently closed to the public for several days. So we did the best thing we could do: we took photos next to the Sheeps Meadow. With a chain-link fence behind us. Almost the same effect, right? It was the first opportunity in our marriage for us to learn simply to roll with the punches. After not too long, the cold and the wind became almost intolerable, especially for poor Susan in a wedding dress that left her largely exposed to the elements. Most of our friends and family said their goodbyes to us, and we returned to Broadway and the temple for more photos and some final farewells.
standing there taking photos on Broadway, we were encircled by skyscrapers that shielded us from the wind. To the southwest of the temple, the low-rise
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CENTRAL PARK
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CENTRAL PARK
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Michelle adjusts Susans dress, which has been tousled by the wind.
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CENTRAL PARK
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CENTRAL PARK
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CENTRAL PARK
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CENTRAL PARK
Matthew B., Matt H., Rebecca, and Dale Philip and Rebecca O u r We d d i n g 76
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CENTRAL PARK
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CENTRAL PARK
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MaryAnn and Dustin & Karen and Susan Dustin and Mary
Goodbyes
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CENTRAL PARK
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CENTRAL PARK
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CENTRAL PARK
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Subway
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photos, yet only so much time. And, with such cold weather, only so much patience and endurance that weand Andrea, our chief photographercould muster. After taking photos on Broadway and in Central Park on a day when the high was only 35F/1.7C and the low was 17F/8.3Cversus an average high and low of 44F/6.7C and 31F/0.6Cwe were about ready to call it quits. But there was one place we both knew we had to take some photos: the subway. The nearest place to take these photos was the station under Broadway right in front of the temple, 66 St-Lincoln Center. So down we went. Countless millions have stood, walked, and waited on that platform since it first opened in 1904, but for a few moments that afternoon we made it all our own. Our wedding day at the temple ended the same way it began: on a subway train, this time downtown to Times Square. Those were really the first moments we had alone, together, as a married coupleshared, of course, with who knows how many fellow passengers on their own journeys to who knows where. But we knew, at least in part, where our journey was headed, and we knew that we would never again travel alone. It felt good. The next morning, on Saturday, 1 March 2008, we checked out of the fabulous room 3903 at the Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square. We made our way, by subway, to Pennsylvania Station, where we boarded Amtrak train number 2251, the noon Acela Express. We were on our way back hometogetherto Washington, D.C., to continue the celebration with our friends and family.
really considered all of New York City to be the backdrop for our wedding. With that kind of setting, there was an endless variety of places to take great
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SUBWAY
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SUBWAY
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SUBWAY
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Reception
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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1 MARCH 2008
apartment, N 931 at Dorchester House, 2480 16th Street NW . We then caught Metrobus H4 from the west side of the square at Columbia Road and 16th and Harvard Streets NW . That took us to Tenleytown, where we hopped on the 30s Metrobuses on Wisconsin Avenue NW and rode to Friendship Heights. From there we walked to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 5460 Western Avenuewhere we first metfor our reception. Several of our friends and family membersTania and Randy; Dustins supervisor, David, and his wife, Jillian; Karen and Bob; Susans roommates Lindsay and Megan; and Andradaspent much of the day helping clean and decorate for the reception. We are still deeply grateful for all the work they did. Everything looked exquisite. Our wedding cake was chocolate with cream-cheese frosting and milk- and darkchocolate truffles. Dogs cant eat chocolate, of course, so Dustins mother had purchased a white cupcake especially for Katie. A highlight of the evening came shortly after we cut our wedding cake, when Dustin got out the cupcake and a very anxious and excited Katie, tail wagging, put her front legs up on a chair to eat it. That first bite was a big one. The second highlight of the evening came at the end of the reception, when everyone gathered in a big circle for a toast. Matthew B. offered a prepared toast, which was completely unexpected. We dont remember verbatim what he said, but well always remember the beauty of his words and of that setting with friends and family gathered round.
MTRAKS
went on our first date, at the Center Caf in the Great Hallat about 14.50 that afternoon. From the station we took Metro to Columbia Heights and walked to our
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RECEPTION
Judy
Family and friends decorated the Chevy Chase chapel, where we met, for our reception. The result was exquisite. O u r We d d i n g 98
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RECEPTION
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as does Susan.
RECEPTION
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RECEPTION
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RECEPTION
Dustin feeds Katie her cupcake as Susan and Amanda look on.
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Daniel and Katie with her glowing orbs of death 107 Susan & Dustin
RECEPTION
Dustin feeds Katie her cupcake as Karen and C.H.G. look on in delight. O u r We d d i n g 108
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RECEPTION
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Amanda gets her groove thing on, surrounded by Martin, Susan, Lindsay, and Ashley.
Matt H. dances. Or, rather, attempts to. (Dustin always gave Matt a hard time about his lack of rhythm.)
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RECEPTION
The main reason for including this photo: note Martin, at left.
Matt H. and Matthew B. serve as the evenings emcees and give Dustin a hard time about something.
RECEPTION
David, Ted, Jillian, and Adriane raise their glasses as Andrada takes a photo.
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RECEPTION
Andrada, Megan, and Lindsay hide under the train of Susans dress.
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Thanks, Scott!
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RECEPTION
According to Randy, You know its a Mormon wedding when the bride vacuums.
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Qubec
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hopped into Susans car, a 2001 Honda Civic that was approximately the color of eggplant, for a daylong drive to Montral. We were off for a well-needed, weeklong,
after-wedding getaway. (We both generally dislike the term honeymoon and prefer something more along the lines of Germans Hochzeitsreise.) We arrived in Montral well after dark and checked in at a quaint boutique hotel we found online, the All Suite VIP Loft at 329 Rue Ontario Est. The building itself dated from the eighteenth or nineteenth century and was located in an older neighborhood just north (or east, as the Montralais think of their citys geography) of centre-ville. At $67.69 a night, we thought it was a real steal. New York City on Leap Day may have been cold, but Montral was certainly colder. And snow-covered. Yet beautiful. Because of the cold, we spent much of our time there in the RSO, or la ville souterraine. On one of our ventures outside, we took a stroll through the park atop Mont-Royal, where we met the friendliest squirrels. Ever. Or, at least, the most daring in their efforts to beg food from you. We were carrying a bag, and they clearly knew food was inside. They came right up and put their front paws on our shoes. Then one, when we least expected it, leapt up onto Susans purse. The act was so swift and stunning that the only response Susan could manage was a squeal and a quick flick of her arm to let Mr. Forward know he was not welcome there. Early in the morning of Thursday, 6 March, we took the mtro to Montrals Gare Centrale and boarded VIA Rail Canadas train 20, the 7.00 run to Qubec City. The sun had just started appearing over the horizon, bathing Montrals skyline in soft hues of pink,
Looking down Qubec Citys Rue Dauphine from atop the Porte Kent O u r We d d i n g 120
orange, and violet as the train chugged across the Saint Lawrence River. By the time we reached the outskirts of Grand Montral (Greater Montral), the sun was shining brightly over the driven snow through which our train was passing. The vast, frozen, snow-covered landscape glistening in the sunlight was punctuated only occasionally by small towns, remote houses, and farm buildings. It looked more like Siberia than anything we expected to find in North America. At 10.16 we arrived at the Gare du Palais in Qubec City. From the gare, we trudged through the slush and up the steep incline of Cte du Palais to our destination: the Chteau Frontenac, one of the worlds grandest hotels. (Susan notes that, even though we explored the entire hotel, we found no ghosts.) We filled our time exploring the quaint streets and alleyways of one of North Americas oldest cities (Qubec City was, in fact, celebrating the 400th anniversary of its founding the year we were there). Susan made a snow angel on the Plains of Abraham, where the British claimed final victory over the French in their conquest of Canada. We rode a toboggan on a run that had been set up on the Terrasse Dufferin, right in front of the Chteau Frontenac. And we pelted the invaders from atop the Porte Kent in Qubecs city wall. (Of course, as Americans in Canada, we were the invaders.) The next day, Friday, 7 March, we took the 17.35 train from Qubec City. We arrived back in Montral on VIA Rail Canadas train 27 at 20.52. We stayed one more night in Montral, at La Tour Centre Ville, 400 Boulevard Ren-Lvesque Ouest. Finally, early in the morning of Saturday, 8 March, we found Susans car once again and drove back to Washington, D.C., to begin our new lifetogether.
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QUBEC
In our room in the Chteau Frontenac Dustin waits for the elevator in the Chteau Frontenac in Qubec City.
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QUBEC
Dustin looking like the awesome American he is, drinking Starbucks hot chocolate in front of McDonalds in Qubec City. The snow was piled high. Real high. But it was no challenge for Dustin.
Susan doesnt know anyone in Canada, but she clearly thought she was calling someone. O u r We d d i n g 124
QUBEC
Same spot
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Susan demonstrates making a snow angel. In this photo, step 1. 127 Susan & Dustin
Step 2
QUBEC
Dustin hauls a toboggan to the top of the run set up on the Terrasse Dufferin in front of the Chteau Frontenac.
Dustin peeks his head over the snow piled high in front of the Htel du Parlement. 129
QUBEC
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QUBEC
On board the train back to Montral. Dustin bought this delicious dinner at a convenience store just before we went to Qubec Citys Gare du Palais to board our train.
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THE END
RETROSPECTIVE
Of all the beautiful photos in this book, these are the two, we feel, that best reflect our feelings of those days. [smile]