Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Sonoma Valley Wedding of K-Mo and Mad

 











The Last Dragon finds his match

K-Mo (Kevin) and Mad (Madelyn) are to be married on July 9, 2022 at Beltane Ranch in Glen Ellen, California. He is the youngest of my youngest brother Rob’s kids. Morgan uncles from Tampa (Greg), Cleveland (Dan) and Saint Louis (Me) are happy to travel west to be a part of what is sure to be a storybook event in the heart of Northern California wine country. I cannot resist another opportunity to see my brother Rob cry as he tries to express his heartfelt emotion. His wife Joy knows well the bitter-sweetness of watching as the dragons of Southlake making their way in the world.






















We have already enjoyed the magic and chemistry of Rob and Joy wedding celebrations of Megan (to Parker in Nashville) and Tara (to Adam in Oklahoma City). Showing up for Kevin’s wedding, like the other two weddings, is rewarding beyond imagination.

Beltane Ranch, the 105-acre venue nestled in the Sonoma Valley, was founded by business-woman and abolitionist Mary Ellen Pleasant in 1892. This dreamlike place is augmented with string instrumentation, catering, tables, music, a dance floor and a hundred other details managed expertly in a setting of an extraordinary beauty. Clearly the wedding planner, behind the scenes, earned her stripes. Timeless elegance and pure joy surrounded a remarkable collection of beautiful guests, all with utmost confidence in future Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Morgan.



We are a family separated by time and geography, but an occasion like this allows us to fill in some of the stories of our individual lives. Greg is joined on this trip with has his stepdaughter Lauren, son Matt (and sweet Bianca) and son Wes (traveling via RV with his quirky plus one, Alexis). Dan drops knowledge of photography on us in impromptu Masterclass episodes and select memories (his own brand). I was lucky Denise (a San Francisco resident) was willing to indulge my desire to visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (where we were able to ponder, among other works, the a remarkable Mark Rothko #14 from 1960). Denise and I also had lunch on Thursday at ATwater Tavern (founded by Lakewood, Ohio pal John Caine who joined us at our table).  

Kevin and Madelyn are are a beautiful couple and their marriage was pure joyfulness from start to finish. Kevin is flanked in picture above by his sisters Tara on his right and Megan on his left,  

Denise (my plus one for the wedding) is flanked by Morgan brothers Dan, Wes, Rob and Greg,






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