In two weeks my friend Jaime Oppenheimer will become Jaime Green. But before that, we had the pleasure of toasting, feting (a word?) and otherwise wishing her well at a couple of fun showers.
Jaime with her beau, Carter, at the home of Elvira Crocker. Elvira, her husband, Dick, and their friend Fran Kentling hosted a couples shower that our dear friend, Diane Lewis, had hoped to throw for Jaime and Carter. Diane, who was diagnosed almost a year ago with pancreatic cancer, died just two weeks ago, so her close friends Elvira and Fran followed through on Diane's wishes to have the shower for Jaime and Carter.
The theme, very apropos to Diane, was booze and barware! Jaime and Carter took home enough libations to keep their friends well lubricated for the next year.
Fran and Bonnie Bing at Elvira's beautiful home in College Hill.
Shockingly, most of the guys -- including Dale and Dick Honeyman -- weren't into the part of the shower where we opened gifts, so they retired to the front porch to do whatever it is that men do when they flee their women.
A few of the guys did stick around, including Brian Corn, who is the Eagle's photo editor and Jaime's boss. He gave a touching and delightful toast to the happy couple.
Two days later, Jaime's friends had a girls-only shower for her at the home of Molly McMillin. Here's Jaime and Carrie Rengers as we prepared to open more gifts.
Bonnie, Jaime and Carrie.
Peggy Smith, Molly and Bonnie.
Jaime opening a card that was made by Joanna Chadwick's three little boys. Each of them included a personal card they had made themselves...
... including this one from her oldest boy, showing Jaime and Carter walking down the aisle.
Our hostess.
Jaime trying on a hat adorned with plastic fruit that Bonnie made as part of her gift. We all agreed to give Jaime and Carter money to help them have a good time on their honeymoon in Martinique, so the challenge was to present the money in a creative way. This was Bonnie's. We had a contest for the best idea and I will modestly report that I won. Yea me. I gave her a flip-flop with the money rolled up to resemble the toes. Well, you kinda had to see it...
Me, Denise and Joanna. On the big-screen TV behind us is an image from a DVD that Denise and a friend made. They recorded a "Newlywed Game" with Carter answering questions that Jaime also had to answer during the shower. Again, you had to be there. It was a party sensation.
Our first stop was at Watermark Books, where our friend Callie Seaton had a show of her new paintings. Her husband David was there, too.
This is one of Callie's new paintings. Her work was among the best we saw Friday night.
It was a dark and stormy night.
A horse drawn carriage in Old Town.
We went to the downtown Chili Cookoff Saturday afternoon.
People watching and dog watching.
Chili fixin's.
Chili art.
City councilman Jeff Longwell stirring the mayor's chili.
The mayor holding court.
County commissioner Tim Norton and his grand-daughter.
The beginning of my "What Not to Wear" gallery, starring all men.
