The Nuptials: Part Trois

Mary and I were wed at 6:00 PM on June 14th at Old Sturbridge Village. Some of you may have read in earlier postings about all our planning and how we happened to be married at OSV. Now I want to tell you how OSV made a very special day perfect.

Let me first make one thing clear, I am not on the OSV payroll.

At least I don't think I'm on their payroll. Don't hold me to that last statement.

We first met with Craig Arnold at OSV and shared our wedding plans with him. I liked him right off the bat. He had an infectious smile, and a way of enhancing our plans without detracting from them. And, he made the day affordable. Yes, I like him a lot.

After a few emails and meeting with Craig, we met next with Alexis Conte. I am not exactly sure just what Alexis's title at OSV is, but she seems to have had several during her tenure there and it shows. She knows her stuff. Again, not one to take anything away from our plans, but to gently enhance them by suggesting modifications, and a very high willingness to make whatever we decided on come to fruition. She very gently persuaded me to forget about the rollerskating chimpanzee as a ring bearer.

Yes, I liked her a lot, too. Both of these people made our planning and our day wonderful. Oh, there were some flukes, but it wasn't the fault of OSV. We hired a harpist for an hour and a half to offer music during the cocktail hour and a half hour into dinner. About 60 minutes into her gig, and after our entrance, I noticed a harp moving down the sidewalk to the parking lot. Strange. It was supposed to be moved into the dining room. I'll call her, and ask her if it was something I said?

First, let me share the ceremony with you. It was held in the Old Meeting House at the head of the Common inside Old Sturbridge Village. The candle chandelier was lit, and supplied the only additional light for the ceremony at 6:00 PM. The music was supplied by Walter Buckingham, OSV's head musician. Walter is a fine musician, and plays a number of instruments, including the antique pipe organ in the meeting house. The acoustics inside the church are good, so no electronic amplification is needed. Just as well. It would have detracted from the 1830's moment. He picked up the guitar a little over half way through the ceremony and sang "The Water is Wide" His voice was quite at home inside that old church.

After the ceremony, we left the meetinghouse for photographs on the OSV Common. A few photos in front of the church, and then a horse and carriage gave us a ride to the Salem Towne House on the other side of the Common. A few more photos, and then off on another carriage ride through the entire village. Alone. No family, no guests. No tourists. Just the driver and his wife, and all of OSV to ourselves.

The reception was a no brainer. Why travel somewhere else? The Oliver Wight Tavern was right there, although we had a choice of having it at the Oliver Wight Tavern, or the Bullard Tavern on the Common inside the village. There are several places in town that offer wonderful facilities for functions such as a wedding reception, OSV just happens to have two of them them.

The guests meandered over to the Tavern, and enjoyed a drink, and the harpist. I wonder how she was? We toured the village in the carriage, and made our entrance pretty much on time.

The Parlor was where the cocktail hour was held. It was done up very nicely with a little votive candies all over. The crew at OSV had done a great job setting up.

We were announced into the main room by the DJ ( he had to be told how to pronounce our name after he screwed it up introducing my parents), and then we began our first dance together.

(pause)

Yep. Our first dance together as man and wife.

(pause)

Where the heck is the music? We cast a glance over to the DJ, and he had no clue. Then the music began. Ahhh.

Wait. What the heck is this song? Celine Dion? How does one confuse Celine Dion with Michael Buble?

The songs from the DJ for the remainder of the night were just as foreign. We hadn't selected any of them. I had to speak to him a couple of times to increase the tempo of his music. I felt that he was channeling Lawrence Welk. Did he get us confused with the Lipschitz wedding? In the end he apologized for the songs, the wrong first dance song, and blamed it on the wrong CD's given to him at the office.

Yeah. OK. I'll be calling "the office", too.

The food was remarkable. Scrod, or the Turkey with Stuffing. Both were excellent. The table setting, and centerpieces were awesome. Tin lanterns surrounded by a ring of flowers Mary had picked out. Don't ask for any more details than that, I just know that Alexis and Mary did a great job.

All in all, I'd give Old Sturbridge Village a 5 out 5 Stars. The wait staff was friendly, efficient, and knew their stuff. The head server was excellent. She took care of every detail of the night for us. I'd give her 10 Stars.

Now, this isn't meant to be a "promo" for Old Sturbridge Village, but it is written to give credit where credit is due. OSV out did themselves from the planning, to the actual event itself. They took care of all the big things, and every little thing that would have consumed us. They did it with a smile, and sincerity. And, they did it for a price that wouldn't choke a horse.

Recomendation: Weddings and Receptions Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge, MA
Five Stars *****

Now, about the photo at the top. That's Mary. It was our last day away, and we were aboard The Cat, the high speed ferry, coming into Portland harbor in Maine from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The week away was fantastic, and the ride on The Cat on that last day was a great way to ease back into the world.

So there you have it. Married In Style In Sturbridge. From a meadow ceremony wearing sandals and a Hawaiian shirt with an accordion player to a real event, thanks to using our imagination, and the folks at Old Sturbridge Village to guide us.

Thank you, OSV.

New Director Of Museum Affairs Named At OSV

Old Sturbridge Village Names Carol Childress
Director of Museum Affairs

Former Opacum Land Trust head to direct membership and Donor relations at OSV

Sturbridge, Mass.-- June 17, 2008 – Old Sturbridge Village Chief Executive Officer James E. Donahue has appointed Sturbridge resident Carol A. Childress as Director of Museum Affairs. Childress will be in charge of membership activities and donor relations and engagement.

Prior to joining OSV, Childress founded the Opacum Land Trust, Inc., and served eight years as president and executive director of the 300-member organization, which is dedicated to protecting natural resources in the 13-town South Central Massachusetts area. In addition, Childress holds state certification as both a residential real estate appraiser and sales agent, and was previously affiliated with RE/MAX Professional Associates, Sturbridge.

During her tenure as president of the Opacum Land Trust, Childress supervised day-to-day operations, working with attorneys, directors and landowners on conservation issues and land acquisitions. She also directed fundraising, grant writing, media relations and grass-roots efforts, coordinating with businesses, municipalities, state agencies and civic organizations to further the trust’s conservation mission.

While at Opacum, Childress was honored with a 2004 Environmental Award from Massachusetts Audubon Society and Worcester Business Journal; a Senate Citation from Massachusetts Senator Stephen Brewer, and a Terre de Femme (Woman of the Earth) Award from the Yves Rocher Foundation of Paris, France.

“Carol’s skills and talents are a perfect fit for Old Sturbridge Village – she knows the lay of the land, she knows our communities and she knows how to inspire both individuals and large groups to work together toward a common goal,” Donahue said. “We admire her energy, her drive and her dedication, and we’re excited to have her join the OSV team.”

“Old Sturbridge Village is the heart of Sturbridge,” Childress said. “It deserves to be front and center – to be the premier museum, educational institution, and tourist attraction in Massachusetts. I’m looking forward to working with CEO Jim Donahue and the rest of the Old Sturbridge Village advancement team.”

A native of Southbridge, Childress worked at Old Sturbridge Village once before – as a “tavern maid” at OSV’s Bullard Tavern during her college days. “I’ve come full circle now and it’s good to be back at the Village -- but I wonder if my OSV tavern maid costume still fits!”

Old Sturbridge Village, one of the most respected history museums in the country, has a staff of 180 and has been recreating New England life in the early 19th century for more than 60 years. For details go to: www.osv.org or call 1-800-SEE-1830.

Best of Luck, Carol!--ed.

A Great First Step

It's been over one week since I last put anything here on Thinking Out Loud In Sturbridge, and as you can tell from the new title, I had little desire to do so.

Now, it's not because I no longer have an interest in Sturbridge. My head, and body, were elsewhere. As a matter of fact, both our heads and bodies were elsewhere.

We just went North for a week, and left the world behind.

Now, we're back, and I have some catchin' up to do, so let's read the papers.

First of all, I am going to start out pretty strong. Haven't done that in awhile.

On the front page of last weeks Tantasqua Town Common there is an article by Matthew Bernat entitled, "Installation of Kids Don't Float Delayed". The "Kids Don't Float" Program was established in Homer, Alaska in 1996 when the Homer School District and the Coast Guard Auxillary provided 15 life jacket loaner stations around Kachemak Bay. Kachemak Bay, Alaska is a boating area, and life preservers are a must have. What ever the reason was that children did not use them, or have them available in Kachemak Bay is beyond me. It could have been lack of education, funds, or a cavalier attitude. Regardless, the Life Preserver Loaner Boards positioned around the Bay has obviously saved lives, and the State of Alaska joined in supporting the program later that same year.

The program has grown over the years and has spread to other states, and most recently to Sturbridge. The program was brought here by the family of a young boy that drowned in Cedar Lake in the summer of 2007. The program does save lives, and is a fantastic volunteer program. The family has done well to bring the program to us, and at the same time work through their grief.

The article in the paper centered around the best location for the Loaner Board and the life preservers to be placed at the Cedar Lake Recreation Area / Beach. At a meeting there was some discussion as to the best location, and it was felt that the original spot would be covered by trees. It was decided to place the board and life preservers on the life guards chair. "We want the parents to see this sign.", stated the grandmother of the boy that drowned.

I agree, but the beach is the wrong place.

Life preservers are designed to be worn while boating, not swimming. There are other devices for swimming, and it is the parents duty to supply them. There are 'swimmies" for the arms of little ones to aid in their buoyancy while learning to swim, a other devices that are designed to aid the non-swimmer while they learn. Life preservers aren't one of these devices. Of course a life preserver will keep one afloat, and if a child is in the water at the beach, it will work if the water is deep enough to float the child, but the purpose of such a device is not to aid in recreational swimming.

It will not work if the water is too shallow to allow the child to float with the life preserver. Neither will "swimmies". They will not work if a toddler falls face first into 6 inches of water near the shore. Keep this in mind and avoid that false sense of security many of us get when we rely on safety devices to be the be-all, end-all.

So, what do to about kids at the beach? It's simple. If one takes a child to the beach, and their swimming skills are poor or non-existent, then one does not leave their side. Not for a minute. If they want to play in the water at the shoreline, then the parent accompanies them, and stays there till the child is done.

They are never to leave the side of the child.

The other thing to make sure of is that a life guard is on duty. Not just in the area teaching swimming lessons, or on break, or talking to friends, but actually on duty, eyes to the water. And, there has to be the proper ratio of guards to swimmers as well.

The life guard does not take the place of a the parent. The life guard is not a nanny. They are what their name states. They are their solely for the purpose of guarding life. That's it.

The parent of a child remains the parent. If the parent wants to bring their child to the beach, and the child doesn't swim a lick, then the parent either doesn't go till they learn by taking lessons, or brings a life jacket, or "swimmies", and understands that they cannot leave the child's side at all.

I have walked this walk, and I know that accidents do occur. That is why they are called accidents, but I also know that education, and accountability can reduce the number of accidents tremendously.

The "Kids Don't Float" program will be a great addition to our town for many reasons. One of them is that it will initiate conversation, and education about water front safety, and in a town full of lakes and ponds, it is much needed, and long overdue.

Even though I had lost a little sister in a drowning years ago, when I became a adult I had a pool built in my yard. I was not going to let a tragedy in my life affect my families life. There would be conditions, though. The pool would be sealed from the house, and street, and no child would be invited without their parent, and if that child was not a swimmer they would need to wear a flotation device regardless of what the parent felt, or their age. Lost some friends with that rule, but never a kid.

Bottom line is that whatever we can do to heighten the awareness that kids don't float, and to insist on parental accountability for teaching their children to swim , and protecting them near the water will be more than worth it

The above photograph is from Alaska's "Kids Don't Float" program.

Wool Days At OSV

The following is from The Boston Globe A&E Calendar section June 11, 2008.--ed.

"Saturday and Sunday Wool days at Old Sturbridge Village The Sturbridge sheep are getting it taken off - all off. Wool Days at Sturbridge Village means shearing demonstrations and a chance to try your hand at the steps that transform dirty, tangled raw wool into something you'd want to wear. While you're there, take a spin around the common on the stagecoach, watch some old-fashioned baseball, or fish in the mill pond. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. $20; $18, seniors; $6 kids ages 3-17; $10, dads on Sunday. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, Mass.; 59 miles from Boston. 800-733-1830. osv.org
Saturday-June 22"

The Masters Voice

I've always wondered if the picture at the left was true. Would he still recognize the Masters voice once he was gone? Would he still jump, roll over, and sit if told do so by the sound of a disembodied voice?

I don't know. Seems logical though. He's heard The Masters Voice for so long. He knows what The Master expects by his tone.

Why not?

Then I wondered if others would still respond in the same way to the Voice? If one still responded it makes sense that others would, too.

Worth thinking about.

George Bush has been in office since I was in grade school. John McCain is a great guy, but not too far apart from George. If elected, will John McCain still hear the Voice, or will he act on his own? What about the others that followed The Voice? Will they still hear it?

I really don't know, but it seems that although the presence of The Master may be gone, his Voice voice will continue to resonate for not just one, but for many.

Only time will tell.