late summer in montreal is starting to step up round the corners of the hot days, leaning in with a cold undercurrent in the breeze and a mellowing of the light into the butter angled sun that comes and turns the leaves. this weekend we rode the racetrack out on ile notre dame in a sky blue vw bus. we packed in the bus in dresses, and tumbled out by a river, by a willow, and jessica and joe fell into each others arms and got married by an aunt who read a poem called Good Loving, which helped break up the crying. then came the bag pipe surprise, then we processed behind plaid clamour and i took the arm of the groomsman who had made a website awesome then sold to a multinational entertainment corporation and watched them run it into the ground and i learned a lot. i lost my love for a while when i went down into a sweet water’s edge grotto for picture time but found him again smoking cigarettes with funny men we knew from highschool taking polaroids (my wedding present.. lesson about wedding presents: do what the bride asks and you’re guaranteed gift-giver success.) this was a wedding of perfect timing, and thoughtful choices – employing friends, and breaking antiquated rules smoothly with a smile and two cheek kisses. the groom shook us joyful at the end of the night, told us this was everything he could ever ever have wanted in a wedding and i nearly cried again but he was gosh darn happy i just beamed and shook him back instead. even the photographers were happy with the light, the setting, the good looking guests (they told us so) and the mc was claire brosseau and she was funny without mentioning blow jobs which shows maturity and epic restraint i think, and the pare’s make beautiful speeches that made me stand O and cry, and joe’s sister made me weep as well and she performed a lovely song with her crackling soul voice and sara johnston harmonized. we cozied up to the family jam band and applauded the way these families merge past the blood boundary of step and second to just celebrate love and fun and john prine. we danced till late and our favorite performance was sara j and chris velan’s 80’s love covers remixed. and the kidnapper films breakdance floor show, that was good too. i hope the photos are up on facebook or somewhere soon so i can relive the joy with all and sundry via witty witty commentary. till then, i’ll make do with my glowing memories and the last of this grand event hangover and my new gold shoes, which are helping me not feel sad that it’s over.