“Safe travels, may the wind be at your back!”
“I love how you are using your Retirement to continue to “Make Good Happen.” This, along with your work with Habitat for Humanity, is truly inspiring!”
“How awesome! Best of luck on this journey for such a great cause! You are indeed living the Head and Heart, Together, motto”.
– Encouragement from Health Partners and Park Nicollet Employees
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The group biked from Warren, OH, to Dunkirk, NY today, one of the five long days of over 130 miles. The weather was wet in the morning, then dried off quickly. A long and challenging day, it was completed successfully by the group.
As I write, I am in Chicago, it is 10:30 at night and the pulsating rhythm of the wedding reception music coming from the large outdoor pavilion can still be heard. The morning rains quickly passed and it turned out to be a beautiful day for an outdoor wedding. Officiating the ceremony, which began at 5 pm was relatively easy for my first time- the dialogue had been agreed upon in March, it was typed in 24 size font and placed in a 3 ring binder. Good plan – the winds would have carried away any loose sheets of paper. The individual vows of bride and groom were thoughtful, heartfelt and showed insight into their own soul and that of their betrothed. Listening to the beautiful words, it was easy to understand why so many people teared up as the vows were said. Both families could not have been happier for the union of these two special young people.
The couple chose to have the groom crush a glass under his heel to end the wedding ceremony. As I explained to the attendees, “this act has several interpretations and for William and Alexandra, it marks the end of their separate lives and the beginning of life as a couple. It is also a statement that even in this moment of exquisite happiness and joy, they’re aware that suffering still exists in this world and together they hope to ease some of that pain through the life they want to live.”
Officiating their wedding was a special honor for me – and a lot of fun. I hope to be able to officiate at other wedding ceremonies.
Tomorrow, I fly to Batavia, NY, to rejoin the group. The group will ride from Dunkirk to Batavia. Then, together, we will have four days to reach the Atlantic shore, just east of Amesbury, MA.
Jeff;
WOW…officiating at a wedding…what an honor! So glad all went well and Best Wishes to the Bride and Groom.
On another matter:
You are Minnesota’s Super Hero in accomplishing your bike journey across the USA. I enjoy reading the informative comments in your daily journals and following your journey on the map with awesome photos.
A big THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for helping to raise money to improve health and wellbeing for children in our community through the Growing Through Grief program.
Judy Zaitz
Park Nicollet Volunteer
Hospital Elder Life Program
Frauenshuh Cancer Center
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Judy, Thank you for the lovely note. It has been a great ride – for a most important cause. I have been blessed with great support by so many readers and well wishers. Thanks
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Glad all went well with the wedding. Safe travels in the air and on the bike.
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Thanks, Eric! 4 days to go and each has more than 3,000 vertical feet per day
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A most extraordinary bit of polytasking! Stay strong, and stay safe.
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Thanks, Deb. Only 4 days to go!
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PS: I’d have liked to see a re-live of the wedding too!
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Yes, Deb, a relive of the wedding with chair dance would be fun to see. Officiating was fun! Thanks for your comments
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Stay strong Jeff you’re getting there:)
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Thanks, Bill. 4 days to go – I’ll be excited by our accomplishment and a little disappointed that the challenge will be complete. It has been wonderful!
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