Few of us enjoy waiting for important news, especially when a negative response might lead to incomplete decisions. Good news is always welcome, as was the call from the doctor’s office saying that Autumn’s full-body PET scan was “clean” and that cancer cells had not spread to other organs. Prayers answered! Thank you!
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I’ve often wondered how I might react if I received bad or terminal health news. Autumn and I joked about selling everything, buying an RV, and touring the South. However, not treating a major medical condition means it would only worsen and interfere with those fun, free-spirit ventures.
Now was the right time to handle a myriad of issues. First, we had a wedding to schedule. You’re probably thinking, Wait, he means a wedding to plan, right? Planning a wedding would be nice. The clock was ticking, so we needed to get a few things in order.
Songwriters Andi & Ken Johnson with Autumn & Paul Stanley after their wedding on Grayton Beach, FL.
Autumn and I discussed marriage before her cancer diagnosis. As I mentioned in Part 1, I wasn’t going to abandon someone that I loved because they received a negative medical diagnosis. We realized on a Wednesday that time was a huge factor. Dr. Moody scheduled Autumn’s port install for Monday, June 23, followed by her first chemo treatment the next day. A simple glance at the calendar didn’t leave much time to “plan” anything.
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Fortunately, I had already filed for our marriage license online. However, we both had to appear at the County Clerk’s office to complete and sign forms. We completed the task mid-week with the couple next to us laughing when I asked Autumn how she spelled her middle name. Hey, one or two “l’s” makes a difference. Shouldn’t a prospective groom know these facts by now?
Yeah, they probably should, but having the correct info seemed critical.
Next, we needed to find an ordained minister and plan to wed. Autumn suggested we ask someone in the courthouse to perform the ceremony, but since I didn’t personally know anyone there, I wasn’t a fan of the idea.
Two wonderful friends, Johnny Crawford and Ken Johnson, are ordained and offered their services. There we were, on a late Friday afternoon, a marriage certificate and ministers. All we need now is a venue and guest list.
Autumn and I desperately wanted our children to attend. There simply wasn’t enough time for them to make travel plans or take time away from their jobs. We wanted a small, simple affair with a handful of good friends surrounding us, and that’s precisely what we got.
There were a few advantages to our accelerated schedule. Rusty, a friend of Autumn’s who hosts an annual cookout and backyard music performance in Freeport, extended an invitation to this year’s event. There wasn’t time for the traditional rehearsal dinner. However, with the Pickled Pickers playing alongside an old-fashioned Louisiana shrimp boil, we could not have planned a better “wedding eve” party. I even got to ask Autumn’s friend and mentor, Dwight Ward, for her hand before the official ceremony. Thankfully, he gave his permission.
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I’ve always dreamed of getting married on a beach, so why not take advantage of Autumn’s new Grayton Beach beach-driving permit? Johnny arranged an 11:30 a.m. lunch at The Red Bar on Sunday with a friend who recently endured her breast cancer challenge. It’s incredible to watch two people with a similar medical background meet for the first time and walk away as if they had known one another for years.
Several of those we had time to notify started showing up about half an hour before our 2 p.m. ceremony. In total, about 20 close friends gathered around as we stood in ankle-deep water on Grayton Beach to exchange vows. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend and to those who sent their best wishes.
After sitting on the beach and relishing our moment, we joined a larger crowd at A.J.’s for our reception. Well, it wasn’t a planned reception, but we couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate than watching the Pickled Pickers play their standard Sunday night set at A.J.’s in Grayton Beach.
Tomorrow, the next week, and the next year will be consumed with treatment protocols. I’m sure that we’ll have some great days combined with a few challenging ones. Yet, in the end, I can’t think of a better partner to face a real challenge with. Thank you, Autumn Johnson Stanley.