Even though we lived in the Philadelphia suburbs for 12 years, it has never been clear to me why Pennsylvania is a “Commonwealth”. A political wag did make the observation during an early 2000’s presidential election that “Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh separated by Alabama”. So it’s perhaps these three “sub-states” that comprise a “commonwealth”….??

So we’re back in our old stomping ground, or at least close to it for the wedding of Jen and David in the town of Paoli. Jen is the daughter of my old friend and colleague, Bob and his wife Anne. Well actually Jen is Bob’s step-daughter who uniquely (at least as far as we’re concerned) is walked down the aisle by both her natural father on one side and her step-father, Bob on the other.

The short marriage ceremony took place under a cloudless blue sky in the garden of Waynesborough House, a National Historic Monument followed by a party in a marquee in the grounds and an after-party in a nearby hotel.

No photos of the wedding……guests were politely asked to put away their phones and enjoy the moment while the official photographer clicked away…..