North Maple Rag

I really like San Diego. I really liked this summer when I first visited and I like it even more now. I lucked out this weekend; when I called my great-aunt to tell her I'd be in town, she informed me that one of my countless second-cousins would be getting married at her San Diego home on Saturday. Accordingly, several of my midwestern relatives were hanging out in the other SD for the weekend.

After a pretty great callback interview on Friday, I headed north a few miles to meet up with the family. Most of the relatives in town were my grandfather's siblings. Some of them, I hadn't seen since my high school graduation. Now, I love all my family members, but I don't exactly love spending time with all of them. This part of my family, however, I'm always glad to see. They're quirky and funny and irrepressibly kind. I've been feeling somewhat anchorless for the last month, so it was great to spend time with people who embody all the things I love and miss about home.

Oh, and the wedding was beautiful. It was a smallish, backyard ceremony and was followed by a lovely candle-lit dinner at dusk. And for those of you who care about such things, the bride and groom chose "Better Together" by Jack Johnson for their first dance.