Saturday whirl

It began calmly enough, but by late afternoon we had to hoof it smartly to get down to some friends' wedding, held in a Methodist church in the University District. We couldn't remember the last time we had witnessed such an event, complete with organist and praying minister. The only thing the minister didn't say was if anyone had any reason they shouldn't get married. Later we hustled downtown to their wedding feast, held in the Chinese Room in Smith Tower, built in 1914 and the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi until 1931. The Chinese Room was wonderful, with an ornately-carved wooden ceiling, and supposedly a Wishing Chair, in which single women who sit and make a wish for it will be married within the year. I missed that attraction, but there was an observation deck which went all the way around the building. It was an unusually mild evening for November, so everybody perambulated and exclaimed over the views. The bride's choice of dessert was fabulous: No lard-laced, iced white tower for her, but rather a panoply of cakes, all vegan, which may not sound promising, but oh boy. Such cakes. They came from Whole Foods, who were the most obliging of the sources she contacted.
There were toasts bordering on roasting from family members, a fine tradition in wedding parties, and dancing. Great party, and all four families involved seemed at peace.