[This is Part 6 in the multi-part epic describing the wedding I attended at the beginning of August 2002. Previous episodes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5]

Friday, August 2, 2002. Sometime around 17:00 PDT. The multitudes who had weathered the reception descended upon the chinese restaurant in Longview. I and several others rode with Jaeger. The groom's parents would be treating.

When we arrived at the restaurant, we were shown to the area which had been designated for the wedding troops. Three large round tables had all been allocated. It was up to each and every individual to choose which table where he or she would sit. Since the choice would be binding for the duration of the meal, it was imperative that correct decision be made, lest the entire evening be spent in the company of undesirable peasants.

Since our group had arrived early enough that most of the tables were empty, we all pondered this critical decision, drifting from one table to another, but hesitating to sit down until somebody else made the first move.

Finally, someone (was it Jaeger?) took a seat at the table in the corner. It almost went without saying that Kiesa would naturally be in the adjacent spot. Anyone else who might attempt to occupy it would incur the wrath of them both, and that would not be a pleasant thing to face.

Once this had been established, the rest of the Yoda crew quickly gathered around the same corner table, and found seats.

Someone inquired as to whether Acaudi and bouncing would be arriving. Jaeger's mom said they were invited, if they wanted to attend, but we weren't certain whether they were aware of the event. Since they had not been official participants in the wedding rehearsal, they had branched to another location before its conclusion.

I attempted to hail them on my cell phone, and managed to get ahold of Acaudi. They were at some other unspecified location, and weren't sure that it would be kosher for them to attend. I convinced them that yes, they would be most welcome to join, despite not being in the wedding party. The groom's mother had officially approved it.

When it came to giving them directions about how to get there, I had to defer to somebody else who had a clue. In inquired with Jaeger, and he gave me instructions, which I relayed bit by bit over the phone. Acaudi and bouncing plotted a new heading for the chinese restaurant. Warp 5. Engage.

As more factions arrived, the tables gradually filled. Those at my table discussed topics near and dear to the hearts of us all. Scifi television, movies, computer games, and a question which has stumped mathematicians, priests, wise men, and geologists ever since the dawn of time: "What would it take to get Linux on the desktop of the common user?"

(Actually, I don't think we actually discussed that last one at this particular meal, though it could very well have come up.)

Interestingly, the tables filled up according to a very distinct pattern. All the "adults" (meaning parents and other "older" relatives of the bride and groom) sat at one table. Friends of the bride's party sat at another table. Friends of the groom along with the happy couple themselves, sat at the third table.

We pondered our birth years on Zodiac placements. The majority of those at my table were monkeys, but I was a dragon.

bouncing and Acaudi arrived last, and took the two remaining seats at our corner table. The total compliment of the party at my table consisted of, going clockwise from myself (and forgive me if my memory has slipped, and I forgot anyone):

• Yanthor, directly to my left.
• Anya
• scottgalvin.com
• Captain Logan
• Acaudi
• bouncing
• Jaeger
• Kiesa
• Bitscape

The dinner proceeded with great merriment. Course after course of delicious chinese food was delivered to the conveniently rotating cylinder in the center of the table.

As is often the case, bouncing and scottgalvin.com managed to provide the majority of the comic relief throughout the meal. Highlights include bouncing's tale of someone at his company who went through the daunting task of writing an XML parser in postscript because that was the only language he was familiar with, and scottgalvin.com weaving futuristic stories about flocks of hyperactive supergenius "Gemadores", the offspring of the soon-to-be-married couple.

Yanthor and I caught up a bit on great movies, scifi, and other events in our lives, including a few disturbing trends both had observed in our respective workplaces, which we had to admit harkened back to a certain nightmare class whose title shall not be mentioned.

Yanthor strongly recommended that I watch the movie Amelie. His recommendation had not been the first highly positive thing I had heard about the film, but his words about it did add even more to my desire to see it.

I recommended that Yanthor see Waking Life. Anyone who likes to think should see that movie. Period.

Inevitably, at one point, the conversation turned to a traditon which harkened back to the wedding of someone once known as "Neelix". The tradition goes something as follows: Everyone bets on who among us will be the next to marry. At the previous wedding, the overwhelming majority of the votes went in Jaeger's direction. (As I recall, it was unanimous, with the only exception being Jaeger himself, who voted for bouncing. Does anyone ever vote for themselves in such a situation?)

We went around the table, each person stating their theory. This time, the results were far less conclusive than they had been at the previous wedding event. I believe scottgalvin.com got more votes than anybody. He got my vote, along with that of several other people, but it wasn't anything like the certainty with which we had elected Jaeger over a year earlier. In another a most unexpected twist, Jaeger himself bet on Captain Logan this time.

When it got around to Kiesa's turn to speak, I was pretty much totally unprepared for what would be said. Paraphrasing, and forgive if I've slaughtered this quote, (which I have, because my memory just isn't that perfect).

"When I read, I like to think that all stories can have a happy ending." She turned to me. "Reading the novel of your life, I have to believe that you will find your match, and have a happy ending. My vote goes to Bitscape."

Woah. That was pretty much the last thing I expected to hear, especially considering the context of events that had recently been written in the "novel". Take two deep breathes, refocus, restate my assumptions, and move on with the flow.

I was touched. I'm not sure that I would really even want to get married, soon or ever. It may not be the life for me. Still, those words, coming from the bride at a wedding where I was the best man, hit me deep. I didn't know how to react, so I said something brief and perfuctory. "Well... thanks."

And the voting went on, with me casting my bid for scottgalvin.com, of course. :)

The dinner continued. We all ate our fill, talked about all sorts of random stuff, broke protocol, and at one point, stole scottgalvin.com's seat while he was up and about. We passed around cell phones with humorous messages on the display.

After the meal, the wedding crowd split into their respective vehicles, and proceeded to the appropriate lodging. Ours was the Longview Luxury Suite.

Back at the suite, I realized that I had left my backpack at the Stone Estate before going to the rehearsal. I inquired as to whether anyone might possibly be taking a trip over there. (Throughout the weekend, people were being shuttled back and forth between the Stone Estate and the Longview Luxury Suite, so I figured it wouldn't be too difficult.)

Luckly, minutes later Jaeger's dad came in and asked if anyone wanted to accompany him to the Stone Estate to retrieve chairs. scottgalvin.com and I were both in for this mission.

We rode in C3PO. (I have received confirmation that the golden minivan is indeed named C3PO, as supected.) On the way, Jaeger's dad queried scottgalvin.com about the marketing strategies of various automobile companies. His theory was that they were pretending to market certain cars to the young crowd, while actually aiming them at older buyers in order to make them feel young. A most interesting discussion.

At the Stone Estate, I retrieved my backpack, helped load chairs, and we promptly returned to the Longview Luxury Suite, joined by Kiesa, who wanted to ride with Jaeger to the airport.

Just before entering the groomsmen's quarters, I caught up with Kiesa and briefly expressed.... something or other... about what she had said earlier. I wanted her to know that even though I hadn't said much at the table, her words had had an effect. I was touched by what she had said.

Jaeger and Kiesa departed for the Portland airport to pick up the last arrival for the wedding: Humblik. There, they would have many adventures spending hours trying to find Humblik as he waited, without any way to directly contact him, or he them.

Yanthor dug out some of his books, and showed me Glory Season, by David Brin. I was intrigued, and decided I would make a point of adding it to my ridiculously long reading queue.

Yanthor proposed a game of magic using some prebuilt decks. In general, the idea sounded like fun, but I mentally wasn't ready for it. I wanted to take a little walk and clear my mind, so I said as much.

I took a stroll down the sidewalk-less streets as darkness set in. I contemplated potential courses of action for the following day. I knew the majority of the people would be attending religious services, which I didn't particularly care to join.

I decided that an ideal plan might be to meet up with Acaudi and bouncing for a while, since I hadn't seen bouncing since San Antonio. I called them on my cell phone, and found out that Acaudi was planning to journey to mount St Helens for the day. I definitely didn't want to be out all day. Just for the morning.

bouncing's plans were indeterminite, but he intended to join up with the group at some point, and definitely wanted to be in on the bowling party. I told him I would keep him advised as plans were made.

Having taken my walk, I returned to the Longview Luxury Suite, contemplated sleep, and processed other items which had been lingering in the back of my consciousness. I wanted to write a rambling, but I had forgotten to pack the appropriate paper and writing implements. Nothing in my vicinity presented itself as a suitable substitute.

So I spent time refining my thoughts, and commiting them to memory, repeatedly. I would write them down later. The most important parts would not be forgotten, and available and ready for my brain when it would come time to record them. I was sure of that.

Eventually, I did sink into a light sleep.

Jaeger and Humblik arrived at an undetermined time during the early morning hours, after their epic misadventures at the airport.

I woke up again before dawn, and listened to music. It wouldn't be long before another epic day would begin. I was ready for it.

[Next weekend, we might be taking a break from the wedding to post a much-belated essay. (Unless Bitscape feels really energetic and decides to post both within a short timespan.) Most likely coming in TWO weeks: Part 7 -- Holy Morning Adventures.]