After spending months brainstorming, photographing, designing, and writing an issue of HOME COMPANION, the staff always relishes getting a copy hot off the presses. The August/September issue is no exception. Finally, the physical pages are in our hands.  From sketches and sticky notes, to eureka moments on the computer, to multiple copies of layouts and edited manuscripts—now, the real thing. 

Slowly turning each page, I remembered the afternoon at Mary’s house when Mikayla gently tossed Skinny over her shoulder and escaped our snapping cameras. I also remembered laughing with Betsy Duggan and her daughters in their sherbet-colored kitchen. While reading Out On A Whim, about the wedding of Libby Curotto to Greg Kueneke, I lingered longer. In fact, I could easily have gotten all misty if there weren’t so much foot traffic outside my office.

                        
This photo was taken at Seaside, Florida, the summer Libby Curotto was 9 and my daughter Libby was 8. In the middle is Libby’s mom, our creative style editor, Kathy Curotto.

                   
                        Greg and Libby shortly after he proposed.

Everyone always says the bride was beautiful, but Libby was radiant. Yes, the scrappy long-legged soccer player had turned into an elegant princess over the years, and never was she more lovely than that night.

I’ll always remember September 19 as an enchanted evening, and I’ll always be thankful to be among the family and friends that wished Mr. and Mrs. Kueneke a wonderful and long life together.