Shrinemount, Orkney Springs, Virginia
After so much anticipation and planning we have reached the middle point of our trip and a key highlight – my nephew’s wedding.
It has turned into a min-family reunion with most siblings, nieces and nephews and their families all flying, and some driving – like us, in from around the country.
We have arrived at ShrineMount, a 100-year old Episcopalian retreat center in Orkney Springs, about two hours west of Washington, DC. It is a fabulous place with over 500 rooms in 47 white buildings to accommodate summer camps, parish weekend retreats – and weddings.
We meet up with our son Josiah who flew in early and take a day exploring Shenandoah National Park and Luray Caverns. The caverns are impressive – most stalactites and stalagmites I have ever seen in one place. Even had an electric organ that uses the features for sound. Not something you would ever see in a national Park, but an interesting idea from the 1950’s that adds an eerie sound to one of their large caverns. We emerge from the awe of the US underground caverns to head up to the mountains – or what uppity Washingtonians would call appropriately foothills.
Shenandoah National Park, which has some great views of the Appalachian mountains right off the purposely drivable skyline drive, has a more tumultuous history that we were not aware of. In creating such a large park near an urban area, it displaced over 2000 people living there in the 1930’s, many of them of multi-generation Appalachian farmers. As I was feeling righteously indignant of this action, I wondered how many Native American tribes were moved off their land to create our great western national parks. It just reminded me that each place has a much longer, deeper history that needs to be recognized to fully appreciate the full story. Who has come before you? What has been left behind or what has been hidden from you? What is the future legacy of these places?
We head down the mountains into several days of joy and celebration.
Our nephew and future niece are so excited to see so many have come to celebrate their commitment to each other. In between the setting up of chairs, putting out the games (of course, there has to be games – even a lighted bocce ball set so the fun can continue into the night) we are able to reconnect with our own family and get introduced to this new extended family.
We find out that our niece spent many summers at Shrinemont and that it is generational love for this place going back to her grandfather. It is a special place and the wedding takes place in the beautiful open air Shrine. The Shrine, as we are told by a few long timers, is the official cathedral of the episcopal diocese, which makes it the tallest cathedral in the world. It is a good line.
There is something spectacular about a wedding that we really enjoy. It is a community celebration that welcomes this new couple and publicly states their love and commitment to each other as well as our love and commitment to stand by them over the years. As we clap when they finish their vows and kiss, I think to myself we need more weddings – or at least more community joyous celebrations.
Maybe I can work on that once we are back home – we have a few ideas….
Siri and David Adventures 