It is the afternoon of Monday May 7, 2018. Wait, first we have to go back to July 2005. In the middle of my divorce I needed shelter against the wind. Arrangements had been made for long term housing but needed something for about six weeks. With a call to Sean I asked if he had room for the homeless for a few weeks. Sean who has never married said, yes, the divorced dad’s room is available. Excellent news.
Sean has a beautiful home right on the Sacramento River. I could not have asked for better accommodations or a better friend. It worked out great at least from my vantage point. During the tail end of my stay I had met Nancy on several occasions. A woman that Sean had recently started dating and eventually moved in with Sean. A much better roommate than yours truly.
Now, I have known Sean and his family for over 4 decades. His brother Kevin and his sisters - Siobhan and Colleen and their parents are all really good people. Yes, they are Irish. We have all seen each other grow up. As a matter of fact I was with Kevin the night he met his lovely wife - Val. The stories…….
The afternoon of Monday, May 7. It had been about a month since my diagnosis and was awaiting my first appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday May 9. The phone rings mid afternoon. It is Sean. What are you doing tomorrow? Before I could utter “nothing”, Sean said I am getting married to Nancy. Now hearing I had cancer was shocking but this was huge. Sean further said and no one knows - not Kevin, Siobhan, Colleen - no one. He further said that you are about one of six people that knows.
Sean then went on - Can you photograph the wedding tomorrow at 11 am at a church in Auburn? But of course I will be there. It was a beautiful wedding. The only people there were of course Sean and Nancy, Sean’s parents, Des and Mary and Nancy’s brother and sister. Father Carroll performed the ceremony. I was in the background trying to capture the moment. Thank goodness for auto focus.
A great day that I had the privilege to witness!
No one but Sean would call someone half blind with cancer on less than a day’s notice to photograph his wedding. But it was truly an honor and felt very blessed. To see Sean tear up was worth its weight in gold. I wish Sean and Nancy nothing but the best for all of time. I can honestly say that it was the last momentous life event I saw with my own two eyes.
After the ceremony I joined them for lunch at a nice place in Auburn and Sean texted some of the images from his cell phone to friends and family of his big day before the news had otherwise gotten out. It was without a doubt one of my bright spots over the last four months.
Many thanks and God Bless!