A perfect caketopper

Amy and Barb

I attended a lovely party yesterday, a wedding reception for Amy Ira and Barb Ralls (Barb is a long-time editor at the H-T.) I had to leave because we had tickets for a play with our family, but I had wanted to make a toast, and so here are the words I had in my mind to say.

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Twenty years ago, when I came to work at the Herald-Times, our youngest child Abby was just three. Over the next few years, we attended parties at Barb and Amy's house, and most memorably, I would always take Abby trick-or-treating over to Barb and Amy's house, where they would have set up a table in the driveway, hospitably handing out candy to kids. 

Abby said back then, "Why can't Barb and Amy get married?" 

I told her "They ARE married, in every way except legally."

Now, all these years later, that time has come. Even in Indiana, people's rights are being recognized. 

And I am a very proud mama that yesterday, our son Adam, in Indianapolis for a friend's wedding, walked in the Gay Pride parade downtown with his former boss, Baron Hill, and other friends.

And our Abby was walking in the Gay Pride parade, too, with the group PRISM, a Bloomington group for teens, celebrating all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions. We are proud that she is being an intern this summer for PRISM.

Times change for the better, and I am so happy to be celebrating Barb and Amy's marriage, after so many years of being wonderful partners for each other. Here's to many more years of happiness for Barb and Amy!

Amy and former H-T newsroom jill-of-all-trades, Carol Thompson

Birdie — oh, we'll call you Richard if you insist! — Johnson and Bob Zaltsberg

Getting ready to cut the cake, and thanking sister Carla for everything

Carol Thompson, Jane Hanser and Joyce Thomas

Rainbow cupcakes couldn't be more perfect!

Laura Lane, Bethany Nolan Knight and Carol Kugler admire Bethany's baby pix!