Of Northumberland and Scotland: Chapter 5. The event.

The main reason we were in the U.K. wasn't really to see castles, cathedrals, or sheep. It was to celebrate the christening of our new honorary nephew. That ceremony took place on our last full day in England. It was even more fun that we'd be returning to the same wonderful little church where David and Jane were married almost exactly ten years before. On Thanksgiving weekend 2001 (just a couple months after 9/11), we visited Newcastle and Sunderland for the first time.

Finally, at the end of an extraordinary week, we were back at St. Bede's in South Shields. This time, David and Jane were the supporting actors, renewing their vows before the main event. Little William was the star. The same priest who married David and Jane was kind enough to officiate. As she did ten years ago, P was honored to deliver a reading during the ceremony. Exactly as ten years ago, I was just honored to be present. The ceremony flew by, though we do have pictures to prove it happened.

There were so many friends and family with whom we were reunited, and we felt like long lost cousins. That night at the reception in Sunderland, P and I spent a good chunk of the evening with Barry, a wonderful man we had first met in 2001. That day and night reminded me as much as any other moment of the entire week about what really mattered. Being with friends, celebrating the joys of togetherness, and appreciating the opportunity to connect and give thanks.

Heading home the next day was an adventure. Let me just say "London fog" isn't merely a figure of speech. After one canceled flight from Newcastle to London, one rerouted flight from Gatwick to Southampton, one anxious $200 cab ride from Southampton to Heathrow, another hour on the tarmac at Heathrow (one more time - fog), and one last cab ride from Logan, we finally made it home. We then found out we had been given one last generous gift before we left Great Britain: two nasty colds that haunted us through Thanksgiving week. In spite of the serious inconvenience of missing Thanksgiving dinner with my folks and the misery of persistent coughing, sneezing, sniffling, chills and aches, it was still worth it.

In fact, it was the very best vacation we've had in a long time.

Until the next time we return to the United Kingdom....