An American Girl

I  awoke this Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. (2:30 EST) with a great song running endlessly through my head, Tom Petty's "American Girl", and thinking of Jenny on today, her wedding day.  From 1977, Petty and the Heartbreakers sang "Well she was an American girl, Raised on promises, She couldn't help thinkin' that there was a little more to life, Somewhere else, After all it was a great big world, With lots of places to run to, Yeah, and if she had to die Tryin' she had one little promise, She was gonna keep, Oh yeah, all right Take it easy baby, Make it last all night, She was an American girl"

Not sure if that has full relevance to bride-to-be Jennifer or not, but I do know she's an American Girl, no matter what this day and the unfolding future holds.  When asked by Mary Lee if Jenny sounds like she has an American accent, her friends are all quick to say "Ooohhhhh yeah!" while we think it is actually a bit of a hybrid between the two.  Somehow that thought stuck in my mind and, voila, I awoke to the mental jangling guitars of Mr. Petty et al whose " supercharged riff set the template for decades of Petty hits", as Wikipedia says.  Nothing beats great rock and roll.

Last night was the rehearsal followed by cocktails and hors de oeuvres at Roxton Park, Bedfordshire  - Anthony's boyhood home, and centerpiece of the Bath estate, graciously hosted by Anthony's wondeful parents, Simon and Maggie.  According to Google, the house dates to the late 18th. century with 19th. century improvements.  Ray and I agreed that if you looked up the word "English" in the dictionary, it would most certainly be pictures of this place and the beautiful surrounding grounds which are the centerpiece for a farm of about 1,200 acres which today raises mostly wheat and rapeseed, a high-end oil with a cabbagey flavor and apparently all the rage in cooking.  On our ride from Heathrow, we saw many fields of its brilliant yellow color on full display as far as the eye could see, much like the endless fields of corn in Iowa.

The rehearsal was  held in the chapel on the grounds of Roxton Park, itself originally a cow barn converted into a quaint chapel in 1808 and given to the township by the family. The place literally oozes charm and history, including the pipe organ brought from London in 1941 during the height of the Blitz, and the beautiful stained glass window and "The Roll of Heroes" for those family and others from Roxton who gave their lives for England in both World War I and World War II. 

It will be a wonderful setting for the wedding held later today.  Based on the rehearsal, if I can make it through without being choked up or downright sobbing, I'll certainly be surprised.
 

Simon and Maggie Bath with
Cheryl, Jenny, and J.D.

Chloe the Wonder Girl, and
birthday girl "Mims"

From the rehearsal, the group moved back to the house for cocktails and getting to know each other.  And, what a magnificent house it is, beautifully decorated with some magnificent history of its own.   The "game room" was a favorite with its 14 foot snooker table - a game which makes billiards look like child's play!  But there were family treasures everywhere the eye turned in this room Anthony said "looked just like it did back in the 60's when my grandfather lived here."

A couple of particular favorites of mine were the propellers from a German plane shot down nearby that Anthony's grandfather had fashioned into a gun rack - that showed 'em!  And, a signed thank you picture from Field Marshall Montgomery who led the British to victory after victory in World War II graced the wall, too.  I confessed all that I knew about him was what I'd seen on the George C. Scott movie "Patton" and it wasn't particularly flattering.  The British obviously have a different opinion of their man and Anthony's grandfather had helped Monty's tanks keep rolling through England when they ran out of gas nearby.  He remembered, three years after the war ended, to send a thank you note.   The English are nothing if not courteous.

After a suitable period of sipping fine English scotch and lots of kissing and hugging of family and friends, we bid adieu and headed back to the hotel for the evening. Friday drew to a close with many of us back in the hotel bar for a late dinner and drinks, and off to bed for a big day on Saturday - wedding day.   Bolstered by the additions of friends Connie Melton and niece Becky and husband Stewart, I think the Yanks will make a fine showing for the American Girl.