Living in Rural Florida is like turning back time a bit -- There are 
always
fund raisers, dances, rodeos and weddings -- the weddings are all day (or all
night) affairs -- ALL are invited -- young, old, and inbetween.  It's a gala
affair that everyone will talk about for a long time.
    'XTRAORDINARY CARRIAGE SERVICE has been hired for one of these wedding
affairs ...... we took a ride up to the small town of Moore Haven (about 20
miles north of LaBelle) to see where we would have to go -- where we could 
park
our trailers etc .... when we stopped to ask directions, the people in town
just shook their heads knowingly ..... everyone is excited about this wedding
.... I think everyone in town has been invited.
    The ceremony is at the Baptist Church -- after which we will pick up the
"happy couple" and carrige ride them to the reception (about 1 1/2 miles 
away).
 The reception will be a HUGE event (outdoors) with "crackers" cooking steaks
in big grills .... then there will be fireworks ...... and THEN, the groom 
as
hired a helicopter to wisk the bride and groom away on their honeymoon. 
other
than the helicopter, this is the way weddings have been put on around here 
or
a long time).  It's always a BIG party -- "gala event" ...... people coming
from miles around to join in the fun.  I'm really glad that we've been 
accepted
into this because it'll be something that will be talked about for a long 
ime
to come  .....
    People work hard around here ...... most are poor -- some are "rich" in
land etc ... most work very hard just to keep their heads above water .....
BUT, when it comes to something like this, everyone puts their heads together
and works together so that a little "fun" can be had.  I think most of 
American
has forgotten this type of living .....
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