have kindly sponsored

One week to go. We are making all the final arrangements for our wedding. Today we picked up our marriage license. In Michigan, my state, you have to see a doctor first who will inform you about HIV before you can get your license. Gareth made the point, quite rightly I thought, that when people have become committed for life informing them about the risks of HIV is of little purpose. It would seem more appropriate to deal out such valuable information to folks who could actually use it to reform their lifestyles. That said we did have the talk and got the license so that is all taken care of. We did not have nearly as easy a time crossing the border returning from Canada this past weekend. Gareth and I went to pick up a couple of friends who flew into Toronto. We spent a great night in the city and I even coerced them up the CN tower the tallest building in the world. A couple of drinks beforehand did help.

The next day we left for Detroit. When we drove across the border US immigration pulled us aside to stamp our passports. While this was happening they discovered that Gareth and I were marrying the following week. They immediately launched into a grand scale interrogation. The immigration gladiator they had hammering away at us looked liked he had just minted it. They made us sit and wait nervously for about an hour while they decided our fates. Eventually they let us go with a smile and have-a-nice-day. This experience has reminded me of my pending discussions with the British Consulate regarding my settlement in the UK. I am sure they will be almost as pleasant.

In the meantime I am collecting all the information I need and finishing off the wedding plans. My hen night is on Friday and thus starts off our weekend of celebrations.

09 August 2000

Stacie Lewis