The images of our engagement party have not left me now nearly a week after the fact. Maybe it is because I have over 1,000 pictures from that day. Maybe it is because Facebook allows conversations about images to occur in the comments section. Or maybe it is because there just were that many worthy images, snapshots in my mind, of a beautiful and blessed day. Rather than think too hard and try to string along the day’s events I will simply share some snapshots from my mind. They may or may not string along the events of the day, but they’re what I have. And they’re keeping me warm with a deep love.

David Matesanz dedicating time to planning, cooking, bickering (with me over menus). He’s a relatively new friend (new close friend I should say) and he worked his ass off. All weekend long. 100 degrees. Over a flame. Cooking 30 pounds of steak. That is not someone who just likes to cook. That is true love.

Ben’s mom and partner Susan flying across country, then driven upstate, to basically work! Planting trees, again, in 100 degree weather. Not partying, but working. And giving. Again, love. And my mother, and Liam, my young cousin, shucking corn and washing dishes. My mother, breaking down in tears because she could see how happy Ben makes me. My best friend from childhood (27 years) Erin crying when discussing my father’s death.

Adrian Albino, first time in drag, insisting that my mother wanted a lap-dance. Ryan Brown on a slip and slide. Matthew Kelleher breaking a glass. Brian Babst highjacking an iPod and singing show tunes. Leslie Simboli befriending everyone and asking everyone to stay the night. Dylan and Liam and Johnny and Antoinette making fishing rods from sticks, twine, and corn and catching real fish and crawfish. Wigs on dogs. Denise’s laugh. The Becks in the hammock. Kristina Katopodis’ mom showing me her first ring (small) and her upgrade (35 years later, enormous). She’s never taken off the original.

Adrienne Goering, red-faced, and in polka-dots, playing volleyball with Jesse Cozart’s weekend date. Again, in the heat. Niki Varadi looking dashing in stripes. Matt Wilkerson, in from SF, and with lost luggage, went shopping at Theory on his way up so as to have a change of clothes. Ben Roussel’s dog messing on the shag. Again. Natalie pregnant, and huge, and Jim envious of the Yaz boxed set. Matthew Siedhoff still up the next morning, after drinking, and going for a run. Jamie Hansel in white patent boots. Ben’s colleagues in adorable summer dresses with adorable Australian accents. Tiny, little dogs everywhere. Old photos pulled out, drunkenly when the sun went down, of Denise and I and Jon and Erin in the past. Our families, very different from our friends, not seeming out of place. But seeming a right fit.

Bryan Raughton taking pictures and swigs. Everyone, and I mean everyone, expressing their love to me of Basar and Scott. My mom and Brian Gatling thinking their support of McCain would land on compassionate ears. Not in this crowd. Matthew Mackay, sometimes a recluse, on at all moments all weekend. And his charming houseguests, Noble Black and David Fudge, making out at every chance. Rabbits. Just like rabbits.

My nieces in the hammock talking cell-phones. Marie, the good mom, asking me to introduce them to Antoinette. They said her name sounded French! Alireza in color! Green puppies. Green canoe. Green swamp! Juli and Dusti all femme with a mini dog. Theron, the same way. Laurel, Keena, Angie, Kristine flitting in summer flocks. Tyler and Michael popping by from the next town over. Tyler behaving. Denise in Justin Beck’s gay marriage tee. Like a drag queen. Of course.

And the toast. Simple and sweet. Like the champagne. And we raised our glasses and everything was just perfect.

And finally my fiance. In a shirt I normally hate, but it looked great on him. Today, anything would have looked great. He beamed. He commanded attention. He practically glowed. I am the luckiest man in the world. At 1:30AM when the stragglers crashed, we crawled into bed, collapsing due to exhaust, and woke embracing, in silence, another perfect day to start again because of him.

Pics here. ♥ BS