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So~ what's the story here?

Here are our wedding co-conspirators, and a little more than you'd ever want to know about the pair of us...

Our Honor Attendants Adam's brother David and his sister Lyn Erin's sister Nicole and her niece Chelsea Our Parade O' Family Adam's mom Louise, his dad Ron, and his sister-in-law Jane Erin's mom Xenia, her Grandma Edda, her Grandpa Robin and his wife Jennifer, and her brother-in-law Jason

Flowergirls Adam's niece Audrey & his cousin's daughter Kerigan Ringbearers Adam's nephews Cameron and Isaac Many Other Helpful, Loving Folks, Including: Friends Samantha & Ted Adam's cousin Kirk Erin's cousin Katelyn

That Dark-haired Girl

Mr. Superlative

Before I was 18 my family moved seven times in the greater Bay Area, settling in Santa Cruz County.  Since my grandfather gave me a radio with FM reception when I was nine, I've been deeply inspired by music.  I learned to play woodwind instruments (glorified penny whistles) in school and continued playing in my 20's with groups that reflected my passions for music, cultural work in general and its effect on the spirit.  But by the time I met my dark-haired girl, I'd become pretty jaded with the profession, having spent three years playing with a corporation's tax-write-off.  (Erin sez:  I call Adam Mr. Superlative for his passionate tendency to speak in superlatives-- best or worst.  And because he IS superlative, of course.)  When Erin went off to NYU I stuck it out here, spent some time where I was born in Colorado, and then moved to be with her in NYC. There, I put down my saxophone for a few years and began learning to live with what the writer William Styron calls "Darkness Visible."  I also devoted three years to CISPES, the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador.  I was able to join Erin for a few months in Dublin, exploring Joyce's pubs and Ireland's rebel history.  After a while, though, both Belfast and Brooklyn were too far from my nephews Cameron and Isaac and my niece Audrey, all born in the Bay Area while I was away.  I'm playing a little music again, putting energy into good causes, and really digging the low humidity.

Most of my childhood was spent in Boonville, CA,  nestled in the branches of a tree reading a book.  Despite Nicole's interruptions, I finally finished the book and left for UC Santa Cruz.  In four years there I made some great friends, learned not to toss food scraps out the front door for chickens, survived an earthquake and attended the birth of my niece Chelsea.  The following eventful four years were spent in Berkeley/Oakland, where I met cool folks while waiting tables, began working in the film industry, and fell in love with Mr. Superlative!  (Adam found it amusing once when a grumpy check-bouncing older customer referred to me as "that dark-haired girl.") Just after meeting Adam, I was accepted to the MFA program in Film & TV at New York University. Most of my family immigrated to New York and moved West fairly recently, so I took a reverse commute there.  At film school I met some more cool folks.   Adam later joined me in Brooklyn while I found work as a cinematographer, taught filmmaking at NYU in Dublin, Ireland, and continued to suffer for my art.  After a decade away, I'm glad to be back in the Bay Area, enjoying sunshine and honest dirt and not living around un-reinforced masonry!

Where this wedding came from...

One very Happy New Year 1994, Adam was playing a benefit gig in San Francisco with Zulu Spear.  Erin was at a New Year's Eve party in San Jose.  She and her friend Laurie had accompanied her roommate Heather to the bash, hosted by friends of Heather's Erin had met once before, including David (Adam's brother...) and his girlfriend Jane.  An entertaining evening progressed into the wee hours, when Adam finally arrived.  Adam noticed that dark-haired girl over there.  Erin noticed that tall guy in a black leather jacket and sunglasses.  Okay, not sunglasses at night-- light-sensitive prescriptions which darkened when he entered the room.  Still, too cool for words.  They hit it off immediately. Nine years later and a world away, the long-time pair made the long-overdue decision that it was time to return home from New York, and time to make things official.  A formal proposal was proposed.  New Year's, Valentine's and their last moment in their first home together passed.  The moving truck was laboriously packed (thanks due here to Samantha and Ted!  Not forgetting Paul, and Adam's sister Lyn on the other end).  Adam waited in the packed truck while Erin spent hours and hours getting a last-minute video job off the Avid and burned to DVD.  For hours and hours, Adam waited in their yellow moving truck on the corner of Waverly and Mercer.  Boy was he being patient!  Finally, Erin jumped in the truck, ready to go.  Finally, Adam popped the question. Yes and his heart was going like mad and yes she said yes I will yes (thank you James Joyce).  Emotions were high and rush hour was over as they said good-bye to New York City and headed out for, you know, a new life together...