have kindly sponsored

I am writing you from my mom's house in the suburbs of Detroit. Right now snow is billowing down in white fluffy clumps outside my window, the likes of you only normally see in sappy Hollywood Christmas films starring Tom Hanks or Meg Ryan or both. It is so much colder here than in London and that makes it very hard to imagine what my wedding will look set against a blazing sun and flowers next summer. But imagine I must, and quickly since I have only two weeks, AHHHH!, two weeks to plan the whole event.

And let me tell you, it did not take long for the parental advise to start flowing. Within the first hour I saw them, on the way to my sister's graduation from college this past Sunday, it all came out. Their opening words to me were, Now after we tell you this, just take some time and think about it. This is the kind of information you need a couple days to decided on.'

Oooohhhh... you know you are in trouble when...

First thing the next morning I received this call: How does the 14th of August sound for your wedding?'

It sounds like a Monday,' I replied.

As you can probably tell, we are still in negotiations.

Thankfully it is not all wedding fun and games here in Detroit City. I have also been forcing myself on all my friends and family and buying presents for everyone on the planet. I am relishing in the fact that I am not at work and stuffing myself with as much American food as possible. British food is not really as bad as people say it is, but American food really is the best in the world. Or at least the little of the world I have seen so far. I know you will all disagree. Feel free influence me by sending me samples of your favourite foods.

Next week I should know more concretely the where's, when's and how's, as in: how do I manage not to get married on a Monday. Until then here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

20 December 1999,

Stacie Lewis