by Elizabeth Stephens

One of James’ members had to be at class in the morning and could not make it to the temple on time. However he flew over in a plane, dropped a bouquet of flowers and took a picture of the temple. (Today this site looks very different as it is filled with million dollar homes.)

After the ceremony, we met many of our fellow members, friends and relatives as they prepared to leave.

Then Jean our photographer took us away into the Japanese garden to take a few candid photos. All of a sudden a group of the guys were running toward us. What was happening?They took James away and through him in the air about 9 times a Japanese wedding custom.

The Family. Alice, James’ mother with little Eddie and his mother, Kim.

Standing on the other said of me was Adrian, James’ dad in back of me, Jerry, married to one of Sharon’s daughter, Rebecca (in the red dress), Ruth and Sharon, my mother’s sister.

My members, Kimiko, Chieko, Darlene, Gale, Cindy, Katie and Sherrie. There were a lot of   fellow members present that we had practiced Buddhism with for years and although we’ve lost contact with many, I still dearly love them even to this day. Each face carries a name and a story. There was also a contingent from my work, the phone company and our relatives.It all seemed like a blur of people and flashes of pictures.

I was having a great time, and then it was off to the reception. We had rented a hall in Pacific Palisades. Everyone now drove from Riverside to the Ocean, again what a great day for a drive. Another of James’ members, Jeff drove us in his cool car.