Goodbye Brooke Lueders

My sister's wedding reception was the Bavarian-themed party of the century. She was a calla-lily in satin. We bid a hearty farewell to Brooke Lueders, and drank a joyous welcome to Brooke Doring, with Oktoberfest beers, schweinsbraten, sauerkraut, dumplings, a polka band, strings of lights, hanging wreaths, uncles, cousins, old babysitters, high school math teachers, and apple strudel. There was merrymaking throughout every corner of my parents' 1970's hilltop estate. The now-grown-up children of First Street Southeast had their photo taken together on the lawn. My mom and dad made the polka look easy, and I received my bi-yearly lesson in polka dancing. My two grandmothers, age 89 and 95, held hands and Violet said to Lorena, "I can feel your heart beating."

Jamon and I drove Grandma Vi home to St. Peter, Minnesota the next afternoon. She sat with her legs up on the seat, dressed all in pink and holding my bridesmaid's bouquet. The countryside was golden.