It's a party

The party is over, the house is clean and I survived. Our Labour weekend started early, Thursday, due to Gordon having stand-down time for being in Australia and having to work on the weekend there. I actually drove a good portion from Bulls to Tirau and there were some hairy, hairpin turns on the “Desert Road” whilst raining buckets but we got through it. The week leading up to Labour day weekend was nice and quiet and Gordon and I enjoyed the time together.



It’s very weird but ever since he came back we’ve been talking more and more. Not about relevant things to do with being married but random things as well. It must mean that we are growing in our relationship to be able to converse more easily. I find it very relaxing and easy. There are times when I am too timid to say something but I’m starting to get a lot better about asking him things. That’s the way a marriage should grow though, growing and changing with one another builds the relationship rather than tearing it apart.



Gordon and I didn’t have to do anything for the party, it was all pre-arranged via Kylie and Christine. The only thing that was required of us was to be present and say “thank you”. However, I wanted to help a little so I made cowboy cookies and banana coconut muffins to help with dessert. I made the cookies on Wednesday and discovered my immediate need for a handheld blender due to the fact that I stirred everything by hand. That Friday we got out of everyone’s way and went into Rotorua. We made a stop at Spotlight and Harvey Norman’s to take advantage of the sales they were having. Then we went to the Government gardens where there was a driving range. I found that with the ease of a tee I could always hit the ball. It was a little difficult to hit the ball off the ground due to the range being Astroturf and I usually tear the grass up a little when I’m taking a shot. Gordon did very well though and all of his shots were stellar. We then had some well-deserved Subway and made short work of our lunch. Afterwards we took a trip to Skyline Skyrides to go luging! Due to an off-hand comment that I made as we passed it, we decided that it would be fun to go luging after our hard work-out at hitting golf balls. We did three rides, two times I beat Gordon and then Gordon beat me at the last ride. It was kind of special because that is one of the things that we did when I first came to New Zealand. Now we were doing it as a married couple!



Saturday was spent at the Tirau golf club. We had a mixed pot of weather that couldn’t make up its mind. One minute it was beautiful and clear and then the next it was a torrential downpour. New Zealand could give New Mexico weather a run for its money. At the end we were a bit cold and wet. My lack of golfing made me exhausted after only half the holes and some very steep hills. Gordon had a great game and I was a little upset about my form, a tendency to swing to the right. Uncle Norm and Aunt Linda (Christine’s side of the family) arrived that day for the party. They got to sleep in the caravan out in front of the house. We had a family game of Scattergories that evening with everyone. I came out the leader with Gordon in a close second. Apparently it was the use of my American vernacular that helped me to win the game.



Sunday was the big day. We actually got up at about 10 o’clock and I was ready by 12pm. However, the party didn’t start until 4pm. A whole ton of people showed up to the house before the party and Christine’s relatives, Gordon and I had to play host. Christine and Kylie were setting-up the hall and Roger was at the shop. I actually had to call my mother at that time so I had a brief respite. I don’t think that I did much though. It was mostly Norman, Linda and Gordon doing the hosting. Many people came who I didn’t know at all. It was nice to meet them, it was a lot of Roger and Christine’s friends along with family who were at the party. Two of Gordon’s friends from Whangarei were able to make it and I got the meet them. The weather was much the same with more showers than sunshine. At one point it even hailed!



The hall was very festive with smattering of New Zealand and American flags. The wedding video was shown on the wall of the hall. The video was a little low due to the fact that our ceremony was outside and there was a bit of wind to toy with the voices. Everybody seemed to be able to hear the ceremony though. We then were all corralled into an adjoining room where we had dinner and dessert. The toast that Roger made at the rehearsal dinner was given, Gordon gave a speech thanking everyone and I was able to read the heartfelt speech my sister gave at the wedding reception. We also had a cake cutting for everyone to see. Gordon and I held the newest member of the Schofield family, Brylie, as well. She seemed very fascinated with Gordon and he was a bit with her. He was telling me he couldn’t believe how small her hands were. After dinner, dessert, and then coffee & tea (that’s when my cookies and muffins were served) we went back to the house for more partying. I had gotten some rum for my baking and was able to use it as well with my coke that I had that evening up at the house.



Overall, it was really nice to meet everyone and see the people I would be going to parties for and spending some holidays with. Christmas will be with Roger’s side of the family. I also got a lot of questions about how I was finding New Zealand and what I thought about the weather. I really don’t mind New Zealand weather at all and told them that living here took some adjusting. It was a nice night and I was tipsy so I didn’t mind talking to all the new people. A lot of people had to leave the party early due to driving home for the night or to somewhere to sleep for the night. Sometimes I felt a little out of place or just some arm attachment to Gordon due to the fact that they knew him and shared stories with him that I didn’t know. Everyone was very welcoming and nice though. It’s always that way when meeting new people, you don’t really share a common thread until something in the conversation pops-ups and you’re able to talk.



I still feel a bit out of place with Gordon’s immediate family right now as well. It feels like I’ve reverted to my shy state when I’m around them which was never the case before. It may be the praise that they give to me on a daily basis when we visit; I was always too humble for my own good. Kylie is such a good daughter to them and Gordon is a great son. In my own eyes, I feel like I’m not the daughter-in-law that I should be. It must be me adjusting to being part of a new family. They work in a different way than mine and learning to operate within that takes some getting used to. It’s like when Gordon and I were learning to live together; I should look at this the same way. I’ve learned to accept more praise from him and not berate myself when he does. Change and adjusting and coping and learning seem to be my lot in life for the time being, living in a whole new culture and country. Hopefully, I’ll be able to reduce that soon to just learning and changing. Learning about how to be a good wife and mother and changing as a couple due to life’s surprises. It will be nice when I feel more at home in New Zealand and the Schofields’ house. You can’t rush these things but sometimes I end-up wishing that I could.