I was so excited this year to have two major events to attend the Sunday before Labor Day with my partner Bob Allen.  My cousin Tom, a missionary priest, was being honored at a special mass and luncheon at his hometown parish in Emmett, Mi. — Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church —  less than an hour north of my condo in Warren.  We arrived early to visit Father Tom at his childhood home near the parish, which his sister Mary Alice makes sure is maintained for his visits.  I also met Tom’s other sister Madeline, who lives in Frankenmuth, and other relatives at the reception.  We shared a table with relatives David and Linda Rykwalder, who made sure that I got their information to stay in touch.

 Bob and I then drove to Frankenmuth to check into the Bavarian Inn before driving to Vassar for the 4pm wedding of my great niece Chelsea Holland and her fiancé Mike Massa.  It was an outdoor wedding on the estate of her parents, my niece Linda and her husband Mike Holland.  I went to both events with Bob, whose late wife was related to the Hollands, so he was considered part of the family.