A New Outfit

Thursday, June 23rd – Victoria, British Columbia - Day 132 

We slept in. We had been going from place to place to place and we finally had some downtime, so we relaxed all morning. When relaxation time was done, we needed to prepare for the wedding. Aisling and Charlotte were invited to be the flower girls and Gen was not happy with their existing dresses. I did not bring any clothing for a wedding; I had made the conscious choice to just buy something when I got there. I never go shopping and I never go buy an outfit, so this was brand new territory for me. 

Gen, Mary, Jo-Ce, the kids and I arrived at a local mall and split up almost immediately, everyone had their own personal mission. Gen went to Marshall’s where her keen shopping eye, honed over years of practice, recognized the perfect pair of matching dresses immediately. The girls looked brilliant in ivory. 

I went to Tip Top Tailors where there was a busy, brilliant shirt and a pair of black slacks that fit well. A helpful salesperson, who couldn’t stop biting his nails, even gave me a discount when I asked. A quick stop for a pair of shoes and a belt and I was ready to go. A bite of pizza at the food court and we were out of the mall and off to explore downtown Victoria. 

We parked directly in front of the Fairmont Empress on the harbour in downtown Victoria. Mary went to check out the Fairmont. The rest of us wandered along a walking street with no destination. We were keeping an eye out for a cheap hair and nail place for the women in the group. With no luck we turned towards the harbour and wandered smack dab into a free ska and reggae festival. We grooved while the kids coloured at the kids tent before we continued walking along the harbour. A few pictures in front of the Legislative Assembly and we met up with Mary to head back to Uncle Pat’s to get ready. 

We had a dinner at the Cactus Club, where Paolina, Matthew’s sister, worked, to celebrate Matthew and Leah’s upcoming nuptial bliss and the meeting of seven of eight McDonough siblings together; Laura was greatly missed. Getting seven out of eight together is not unusual, having Patrick be one of those seven and in Victoria is the unusual part. The meal was delicious. 

Afterwards we took a stroll to the same walking street we went down earlier. The McDonough’s went to reminisce where kids were not allowed, so the Simnett’s and Jo-Ce went home to enjoy a restful night.