Newly wed: My mother, Nancy Ballantine
Congratulations are in order for my mother and her new husband, Andrew Ballantine. Despite being Nancy Phelps as long as I have been alive, she is now called Nancy Ballantine.
Andrew and my mother eloped Friday afternoon, foregoing the pressure and madness of a huge second wedding and keeping it between themselves (and Mittens). The ceremony was at home in their beautiful 24th-floor apartment in Evanston, overlooking Chicago.
My mother, despite growing up drenched in East Coast wealth, always kept a fancy for simple living: Wendy’s, I Love Lucy, and Disneyland are her luxuries. So it should not be a shock that she designed the wedding cake:
Juan and Juanita, the bride-and-groom Homies, atop an orange-icing Hostess cupcake, and Taittinger Champagne (Photo by Andrew Ballantine)
It’s as surreal for the reader as it is for this writer, but I am convinced she could not be in a happier place. Here’s to a lifetime of love.
You have a very eloquent way with words my friend.
I only just found your web site last week, but I gravitated towards the section in memory of your dad. Surely that’s because I lost my mother when I was only 23.
I’m sure it’s hard for you to deal with your mother’s remarriage, although you sound very mature about it in this post. They always say that it’s the most happily married widows/widowers that find and need love again sooner rather than later.
I’m happy that you’re happy for your mom and her new husband. :)
Hi Andrew,
I’m Joey Tryon’s uncle, tell Lisa I like her with the short hair. I’m glad you guys are rooming together, but I hope your studies don’t suffer. I always found her quite distracting (and I’m an old fart!)
Hi Andrew!! This is Akansha – from Rome. I was thinking about Rome and what an amazing time I had then and remembered you, and thought I’d see what you’ve been up to. I hope you’re having fun in California! I am in Dallas now, working with Mandy and Ellen. I hope you still remember us. I’m sure you met hundreds of people this summer – but they couldn’t possibly have been as much fun as us.. right? =)
Lots of smiles from Texas…
Akansha =)
Congratulations to your mom and step-dad! Life is short — I’m glad she found love again.
Sandi is in Germany on her “book tour” Karlchen, look it up in the European Amazon, she is number 1,134,102 (JK Rawlings is #1).
Anyway, I was checking her e-mail and notice an e-mail from your Mom who said to check your Blog. I knew something was up when I saw her e-mail was Nancy Ballantine (like the beer?). That’s terrific for your Mom, I’m sure you and David are trying to figure out where things go from here. I knew your Dad since 1976 – Sandi and I introduced him to your Mom long about 1978. I’m sure your Dad would want your Mom to “be happy”, I’m sure that will take some time for the “boys” to get used to.