Family priorities first...no Inzane for me this year.

[wiggydotcom]

Sadly, I won't be able to attend Inzane this year. A few of you already know but thought I'd let the extended VRCC family know. My youngest daughter, Kami, will be getting married in Estes Park, Co in July and my resources and planning are dedicated to that event.

She was back home last night for a wedding shower her sisters threw for her.

Kami is second from the left.



In pictured order are daughters, Ashley, Kami, Allison, Allison's daughter(my granddaughter Ainsley), and my wife, Marlene.

I'm still hoping to do a fall ride this year along with some rides closer to home.

Gonna miss everyone!

[Jess from VA]

Condolences on missing the rally, and on funding a wedding.

I always advised fathers to make generous cash offers for elopement.... so long as it comes in under the cost of the wedding.  Not only do you save the extra expense, you are saved the months of high drama that seem to come along with all formal weddings.  (And five bridesmaids dresses that get worn once.)

I once attended a wedding where the groom broke into sobs and ran out of the church when he was asked the big question (do you take this woman....).  That was some high drama right there (250 in the church).  The bride-to-be passed out like a sack of potatoes.  And the pastor (and I) had to run outside and restrain the bride's brother (my best friend) from beating the groom senseless (or to death) with a big brass candelabra.  

Of course, my best to all parties (esp you Russ) (nice looking family).  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dang Russ, you are a special man to have all those beautiful and smart women in your life.  Well done Dad & Granddad. See you down the road. 

[Rams]

A beautiful family.   

Weddings can be challenging, been there, done that.   Unfortunately, for me, that marriage didn't work out so, we get to do it again.......      Someday.................

[Ramie]

Gorgeous family, congrats.  My father in-law offered me $400 and a ladder back in 73 but couldn't talk the bride into it. 

[Firefighter]

Wow!   You must be the fifth wheel! Good lookin family!

[Oss]

Great news !

You have a lovely family

We will just see you at the next event then.

[wiggydotcom]

Condolences on missing the rally, and on funding a wedding.

I always advised fathers to make generous cash offers for elopement.... so long as it comes in under the cost of the wedding.  Not only do you save the extra expense, you are saved the months of high drama that seem to come along with all formal weddings.  (And five bridesmaids dresses that get worn once.)

I once attended a wedding where the groom broke into sobs and ran out of the church when he was asked the big question (do you take this woman....).  That was some high drama right there (250 in the church).  The bride-to-be passed out like a sack of potatoes.  And the pastor (and I) had to run outside and restrain the bride's brother (my best friend) from beating the groom senseless (or to death) with a big brass candelabra.  

Of course, my best to all parties (esp you Russ) (nice looking family).  

Jess, my middle daughter, on the left in the pic, did elope last August. She informed us she didn't want a big wedding and went to Oneida Falls in Oregon. It was a beautiful wedding and we got to see the video. She did save us a ton of money.

Wow, that wedding you described sounds like it had the good makings of a reality series. That sounded CRAZY!

[Jess from VA]

Condolences on missing the rally, and on funding a wedding.

I always advised fathers to make generous cash offers for elopement.... so long as it comes in under the cost of the wedding.  Not only do you save the extra expense, you are saved the months of high drama that seem to come along with all formal weddings.  (And five bridesmaids dresses that get worn once.)

I once attended a wedding where the groom broke into sobs and ran out of the church when he was asked the big question (do you take this woman....).  That was some high drama right there (250 in the church).  The bride-to-be passed out like a sack of potatoes.  And the pastor (and I) had to run outside and restrain the bride's brother (my best friend) from beating the groom senseless (or to death) with a big brass candelabra.  

Of course, my best to all parties (esp you Russ) (nice looking family).  

Jess, my middle daughter, on the left in the pic, did elope last August. She informed us she didn't want a big wedding and went to Oneida Falls in Oregon. It was a beautiful wedding and we got to see the video. She did save us a ton of money.

Wow, that wedding you described sounds like it had the good makings of a reality series. That sounded CRAZY!

First, please forgive me my negativity on weddings.  Of course they can be lovely events, important to all concerned, and may actually serve to make the young couple try harder when they reach the inevitable rocks and shoals that appear over time.

The wedding I mentioned happened exactly as I described (and was not a memory of the final scene in The Graduate with Dustin Hoffman).  My best friend's older sister was a lovely, quiet, innocent girl (we all grew up together), and being left on the alter in front of a church full of people affected her for some time.  Of course she was better off without the asswipe in question, but what a way to find that out.  She later married a good man, and as far as I know is still married to him with her own family.

After the packed congregation sat in quiet (with murmurings) for some fifteen long minutes, the Pastor came back in and said he was sorry, there would be no wedding today.  He said the wife's family had catered very nice food for the whole 250 on hand, it would just go to waste, so would everybody please move to the conference center part of the church and eat it.  Everyone was so sorry for her, we all moved to the food in support, but no one had much of an appetite.  The bride was taken to a doctor.  My buddy still wanted to kill this guy, and who could blame him?  I told him he needed a better plan than beating him to death on the church steps.... and a decently planned alibi.  Beyond this I have no recollection of any events that may have happened regarding the coward groom.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

All I can add is those beautiful ladies must take their looks from Moma     

[cookiedough]

Yep, all 3 daughers are smoking hot, must get it from mom's sides of the family...   

Nothing wrong with small wedding.  My wife actually wanted a small wedding since her family was small and mine fairly big and just had immediate family present is all in an old mansion house formal sit down dinner and the local judge in town doing the service.  Was perfectly fine with me.  The wedding ring cost me the most by far.   

[HayHauler]

I feel ya Russ.  My son is getting married next weekend, 5/7, and we have been pretty busy helping get things together.  Supposed to be about 190 for this one, but they are paying for most of it.  She is an event planner, so she has her ducks in a row.

Gonna miss ya Russ.  I was looking forward to riding with you on the new F6.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Stanley Steamer]

Cletus said he is REAL upset that he didn't get to call you "Dad"......

[Willow]

Cletus said he is REAL upset that he didn't get to call you "Dad"......

Based upon the glimpses of the family Russ holds in his arms and a few exposures to Cletus I'm fairly confident that the level of the upsetness of Cletus is equally matched by the happiness and relief of Russ.       

Russel, you and Marlene have done well.   

[wiggydotcom]

Thanks all for the very kind words! And to Joe and those who suggested that the looks came from my wife, I can't argue that one! I'll get settle for imparting a little wisdom and humor into the mix...

[Willow]

Thanks all for the very kind words! And to Joe and those who suggested that the looks came from my wife, I can't argue that one! I'll get settle for imparting a little wisdom and humor into the mix...

Russell, I have eight children.  There is one of them who bears neither my blood nor my name.  It hurt me a bit at my mother's memorial that my father would not acknowledge her as a granddaughter since she had chosen not to be adopted.  That's a drift off point.  I do that, don't I?

The point is that she is a beautiful and intelligent young lady.  She has born two of my dozen grandchildren (I gained my twelfth yesterday.  She is my third grand girl.) and is the manager of a moderately sized bank branch.  I have provided no bricks into the physical beautiful person that she is.  I input no genetics into the brilliant young person that her mind allows her to be.  She is, however, in many ways an almost mirror image of me in the way she looks at and deals with the world.  Part of what I am lives in her, my child.

I know we like to joke about how our children, daughters specifically, got their looks from their mother's genes, but it's not true, is it?  They are so much a mixed conglomeration of what we have contributed to their beings and their lives.  There is never a more clean indication of what we are and what we have contributed to this world than is the mirror of what our offspring have become.  Sometimes that's gratifying.  Sometimes it's not so much.

You and Marlene have done well and what they are certainly came from both of you.  Even if they did get their looks from their mother, you picked her out, didn't you?

 

[Marinakorp]

Congrats on the beautiful family!



Fyi my daughter's name is Ainsley (11)

[ptgb]

Congrats, we have much in common. I possess a wonderful family as well, 2 stepdaughters and a stepson. I thank goodness that none have my DNA as to looks, family medical history, and the general grumpiness gene (that's a real thing   ).

As to the Inzane attendance, it is even a more acute situation for us, as the youngest stepdaughter is getting married the Saturday after the end of Inzane. Luckily, my wife said, "I'd rather have you gone to Inzane the week before the wedding". The reasoning is that I won't be there to bitch (that grumpiness gene) about what they are spending, about the last minute issues that are bound to come up, and the 42 million cookies that will be collected at the time (cookie tables are a HUGE thing around here and my wife makes sure that our weddings have about 326 cookies per guest).

Can't complain, get home Friday morning, pickup the tux and then go to the rehearsal dinner... no muss, no fuss.

p.s. - try as I might, none of them would run off to Vegas to get married in the wedding chapel behind Denny's.

[Dave Ritsema]

What a beautiful family! You are very blessed indeed!
I used to spend my summers in Estes Park in the 70's, awesome place for a wedding!

[Popeye]

Nice looking family Russ.   Well worth missing Inzane.


Popeye

[Misfit]

Congrats Russ. You will be missed. 

[wiggydotcom]

Thanks all for the very kind words! And to Joe and those who suggested that the looks came from my wife, I can't argue that one! I'll get settle for imparting a little wisdom and humor into the mix...

Russell, I have eight children.  There is one of them who bears neither my blood nor my name.  It hurt me a bit at my mother's memorial that my father would not acknowledge her as a granddaughter since she had chosen not to be adopted.  That's a drift off point.  I do that, don't I?

The point is that she is a beautiful and intelligent young lady.  She has born two of my dozen grandchildren (I gained my twelfth yesterday.  She is my third grand girl.) and is the manager of a moderately sized bank branch.  I have provided no bricks into the physical beautiful person that she is.  I input no genetics into the brilliant young person that her mind allows her to be.  She is, however, in many ways an almost mirror image of me in the way she looks at and deals with the world.  Part of what I am lives in her, my child.

I know we like to joke about how our children, daughters specifically, got their looks from their mother's genes, but it's not true, is it?  They are so much a mixed conglomeration of what we have contributed to their beings and their lives.  There is never a more clean indication of what we are and what we have contributed to this world than is the mirror of what our offspring have become.  Sometimes that's gratifying.  Sometimes it's not so much.

You and Marlene have done well and what they are certainly came from both of you.  Even if they did get their looks from their mother, you picked her out, didn't you?

 

Thanks for the kind words, Carl. You're spot on in the evaluation of your daughter. You provided her a home when she was young and vulnerable. She's no doubt returned her love and affection ever since and given back to you more than you could have ever imagined. I often see husbands and wives, who over time, I swear grow to even look like each other. Genetics is a weird science.

You can digress on my posts any time you want, Carl. Thanks for sharing!

[wiggydotcom]

Congrats Russ. You will be missed. 

Thanks, Damon...and the rest of you. You'll all be missed also!

[old2soon]

I duz understand you going to yer daughters wedding! I missed 3 or 4 Missouri Fall Color rides because driving the band truck for the High School band my daughter was in was way more important than the F C R. Your a good Man Russ and gonna miss running a table with you and riding with you. BUT we should tie up at the Illinois Freedom Ride. Any chance you can ride yer scoot to Colorado?  RIDE SAFE.

[jimmytee]

Sadly, I won't be able to attend Inzane this year. A few of you already know but thought I'd let the extended VRCC family know. My youngest daughter, Kami, will be getting married in Estes Park, Co in July and my resources and planning are dedicated to that event.

She was back home last night for a wedding shower her sisters threw for her.

Kami is second from the left.



In pictured order are daughters, Ashley, Kami, Allison, Allison's daughter(my granddaughter Ainsley), and my wife, Marlene.

I'm still hoping to do a fall ride this year along with some rides closer to home.

Gonna miss everyone!

I thought this was family.... 

[wiggydotcom]

I duz understand you going to yer daughters wedding! I missed 3 or 4 Missouri Fall Color rides because driving the band truck for the High School band my daughter was in was way more important than the F C R. Your a good Man Russ and gonna miss running a table with you and riding with you. BUT we should tie up at the Illinois Freedom Ride. Any chance you can ride yer scoot to Colorado?  RIDE SAFE.

Dennis, yes, we'll tie up at the Freedom Run. My wife did offer that I could ride my bike to Colorado. But by flying out, I can spend more time there with the few precious days I can take off work. I'm only able to take off about 5 days. There will be other opportunities to ride there.

[wiggydotcom]

Sadly, I won't be able to attend Inzane this year. A few of you already know but thought I'd let the extended VRCC family know. My youngest daughter, Kami, will be getting married in Estes Park, Co in July and my resources and planning are dedicated to that event.

She was back home last night for a wedding shower her sisters threw for her.

Kami is second from the left.



In pictured order are daughters, Ashley, Kami, Allison, Allison's daughter(my granddaughter Ainsley), and my wife, Marlene.

I'm still hoping to do a fall ride this year along with some rides closer to home.

Gonna miss everyone!

I thought this was family.... 

Yes, you are right, Jimmy! But over the course of 15 years in the VRCC, I'd like to think you're all family too. Every year I attend an Inzane or other ride, my family here grows and the people here mean a lot to me. It IS my second family!

[t-man403]

Russ, "InZane" is a yearly event that can't compare to a once in a lifetime event!
You won't even think about "InZane" wedding day ......... but the day after...... humm.

Congrats to you all!!! 

[POPS 57]

Great looking family. When someone makes a comment to me about my daughter. I just tell them I didn't make her with my face.