Brunklefest

We welcomed a new member to the family this week, as my sister Erin got married over the weekend at Washington Family Ranch, AKA Wildhorse Canyon, AKA Rajneeshpuram.  The Union of Erin Kelly Runkle and Jeremie Jay Bryner was dubbed "Brunklefest 2010" by the locals.  I'm not sure if this means that next year on their anniversary the whole camp will celebrate Brunklefest 2011 or what, but it's a cute nickname.  It was a pretty impressive affair, gathering all these people together in a spot that is difficult to find on Google Maps.  Put it this way, if it wasn't a Young Life camp, it's quite possible Santa Claus would miss this place every year.  How many wedding invitations have you got lately that said said the following things:

• Cell phone service is not available
• Be sure to gas up in Biggs Junction, a town 82 miles away, because there aren't any reliable gas stations closer
• GPS devices are unreliable

It really is a phenomenal place, and a fantastic setting for retreats and youth camps.  It also makes for a great mini-destination wedding as it turns out.  I thought I would hand out some awards for the weekend, because really, who doesn't love awards?

• Best Dressed - Has to go my sister Erin, because if anyone else out-did her, they would've been buried somewhere on the ranch where only coyotes could find her.  Even I know you don't show up the bride.
• Best Entrance - Grant, Bryony, Colin and Laura showing up mid-rehersal in an RV like Cousin Eddie in Christmas Vacation.  I think I heard more than a few gasps and "uh oh's" go through the crowd as they arrived.  It was pretty awesome, and set the scene for many "oh, so YOU'RE the brothers" comments made throughout the weekend.
• Most Humiliating Moment - When someone asked me if I was "the Famous Grant."  I had to bow my head and admit that I was merely the "Famous Grant's Brother." 
• Best Running Joke - Jonah had a little problem with people talking that he didn't know. After the Rehersal Dinner, when everyone was giving toasts "Jonah would interrupt by saying "Who is that guy?" This continued throughout the weekend, including during the ceremony.
• Strangest Rehersal Dinner Speech - Three-way tie for stories of Jay (the groom) that all were along the lines of "I remember a time when Jay did something sorta mean, but I swear he's an awesome guy."  After the third one, I felt like asking Jonah "Who is that guy?"
• Biggest Challenge - Climbing this beast of a hill called "Communication Hill."  Why Communication?  Because it's the tallest hill around and thus is the best place to place radio transmission equipment.  Climbing this thing seems to be some sort of rite of passage for visitors to the camp.  It starts out hard, and gets harder.  Coming down, there needs to be a runaway-human ramp it's so steep.  It's even harder when you have to carry Jonah.  We couldn't find a babysitter, because everyone else was out jogging, biking, hiking, or getting ready for the wedding.  Way to invite a bunch of over-achievers to your wedding, Erin.
• Most Impressive - The level of support the rest of the camp showed for Brunklefest.  Seemingly every fulltime resident of the ranch had a hand in either planning, decorating, cooking, hosting, or participating in the event.  It's truly impressive that Erin and Jay were able to receive that measure of assistance.  I'm not even sure they had to ask for it - the impression I got is that everyone was so happy for them that they spontaneously asked "what can we do to help?"
• Worst Timing - Goes to Rachel and I for hopping out of line for prom-style pictures at the reception because it was too long, only go back at the exact moment that some kid tripped and ripped through the backdrop, causing a delay that was made longer by pauses for toasts and first dances.  Instead of standing in line for 5 minutes, we ended up in line for almost half an hour.
• Best Job-Shadowing - Jonah mimicked the photographer all day.  Jonah spent most of the pre and post wedding time crouching down on one knee and saying "1-2-3" while snapping pictures of people's knees.  Of the 180 pictures on our camera at the end of the weekend, 150 of them were deleted because they were of the sky, the grass, someone's butt, or had a finger over the lens.  Keep working at it Jonah!
• Best Dance Moves - Goes to one of the bridesmaid's daughter.  She started a breakdancing revolution among the under-5 crowd at the reception.  Quite entertaining.
• Best Song at the Reception - Surprisingly, this goes to Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA.  I wouldn't have guessed it would be popular with people of all ages, but the dance floor was never more packed or the energy better than when we were "nodding our heads like yeah." 
• Keeping the Older Step-Brother Happy Award - Goes to Kate Kaufman for ensuring that the Cha Cha Slide was incorporated into the reception.  It used to be a standing request of mine that it be played at all weddings I attend.  In the future I'll be requesting Miley.
• Best gift - Erin and Jay put on a fireworks show worthy of the Fourth of July as they drove off to start their honeymoon.  It was extremely impressive, and Jonah looked like someone had just handed him a million dollars.  I'm pretty excited for Independence Day now, and will probably have a camera on him.