The newlyweds returned to the chaotic energy of the household filled with five extra family members. Her grandfather tentatively helped with flower cutting; brother and first cousin sorted and bagged KitKats brought from Japan. Then the relatives, still tired from driving across states to be here, willingly got back in their cars to pick up more flowers and cupcakes to deliver to the restaurant, along with the guest book, candles, framed pictures and card box. My husband left at the same time to pick up her altered dress and her husband's dry cleaned suit, leaving the couple and myself a quiet interlude to breathe.
A few hours later, our nuclear family of four plus our new(ish) son-in-law arrived at the lakeside restaurant. My husband dropped us off so we wouldn't have to carry the centerpieces too far. As he pulled away, I started walking and felt my shoe separate from its sole.
It's not a wedding celebration without something going wrong...right? I shuffled into the venue and up the stairs.
The room was wonderfully appointed with the decorations we had sent on ahead. Party coordinators greeted us and took the centerpieces to be placed on the tables. The photographer was already there, and began taking pictures of the couple.
Extended family reappeared--my father, his wife, my uncle, my brother and his daughter--with more picture taking to mark the event. One, two, twenty more friends and family from all across our daughter's life strolled in. My partner teacher who was among the first to know I was pregnant twenty-six years ago. Her NICU nurse, still a good friend. Friends from middle school and high school. Her college roomate. Beloved neighbors who might as well be her grandparents. Our favorite, welcome Thanksgiving dinner guest.
A motley crew, to be sure, but all connected by their love for our daughter and her husband. Laughter and smiles and conversations filled the room as we all caught up with one another or found new connections--the college roommate discussing her med school NICU rotation with the nurse, my teaching partner and my daughter's high school friend commiserating over Minnesota winters. Toasts were made and glasses were lifted to the newlyweds' happiness.
We couldn't have asked for a better celebration.
 |
| The centerpieces now adorn our kitchen table. |
Sometimes
ReplyDeleteour souls
separate
from our shoes,
from our body
from our presence
-- slightly off
balanced with
the edge
of the road --
and the shuffle
brings us forever
forward into the
moment we are
now ... in
- a poem of appreciation for your post, and a congrats on such a big family event (sorry I focused on your broken shoe)
Kevin
Such an interesting perspective that brought me pause, Kevin. My soul certainly separated from my shoe woes that evening; barely noticed the problem in the happiness that filled the room. Thankful that dancing wasn't part of the event!
DeleteThis warms my heart. I’ve grown to love and appreciate the simple, eclectic, low cost weddings most. We attend a lot of receptions but don’t get to see many weddings where we live. We’re precluded by religious rules from attending most ceremonies.
ReplyDeleteThank you for inviting us to your daughter’s wedding w/ these lovely words.
My daughter is practical to a fault, Glenda; I had to prod her to at least buy a special dress for the civil "ceremony" (just a signing of papers, no vows involved) in their Japanese city hall. This truly was just a celebration of their union, without too many of the traditions we're used to, at their request. Sorry you are excluded from what should be joyful community events!
Delete