The Little Wedding That Could

When we left home Thursday morning, we were driving down to Rochester to attend/ participate in Shawn's sister's wedding at Whitewater State Park on Saturday. The idea of an outdoor reception at the park was already being replanned, due to cold and rainy weather. It poured for over half of the supposed 6 1/2 hour trip (ended up being more like 8) from our house to the hotel, which wasn't fun to drive in. My discomfort driving, however, was only a minor detail compared to the damage the rain did to others.

En route, we discovered that the roadway between us and Rochester was closed due to flooding. The detour we were sent on was heavy with traffic and it took us an hour to go 15 miles. We were routed through the town of Zumbro Falls. The water under the bridge there was fast and furious and contained many limbs and portions of trees and foliage. The park was flooded right up to the road. Only a few hours after we drove through, that road was flooded and the water rose 7 or 8 feet into homes and businesses. We saw on the news the next day small buildings and structures- even a Pepsi machine- being carried away by the water.

We also learned on the way, that Shawn's grandparents in Pine Island had been evacuated from their home. They are unable to return to it, as the water had it's way with the structure and their belongings, and are currently living in an assisted living facility. Shawn's parents were high and dry a few blocks away, but were unable to get out of town to see us that evening because all the roads were flooded. The kids were disappointed, and Jonah asked them on the phone, "Do you have the proper materials to build a raft?"

Whitewater State Park and the nearby towns were flooded. The ceremony could not be held there. The 2nd choice location for the reception was located in the city of Pine Island, which was now a large lake with police surrounding it, arresting trespassers in canoes.

So, we arrived in Rochester and had pizza and pool swimming with the bride-and-groom-to-be, unsure of when the bride's parents would be able to leave their home, worrying about the status of her grandparents' home, and unsure where her wedding would take place or who would be able to attend.

By the next morning, a route had opened up for Shawn and Sara's parents to leave Pine Island. Shawn and I had joked with the check-in clerk at the hotel the night before about having the wedding there- and Friday morning, that's just what Sara decided to do. It didn't take much to relocate the wedding the day before- Plan C worked out quite well. The hotel was only a couple blocks from Sara's home, and the staff was wonderfully accommodating about it all. In the end, it turned out just lovely.

Congrats, Sathish and Sara!

The kids playing "James Bond" with cousin Josie