I'm going to sleep for a week or so. 11 months of planning and fretting and focused attention culminated in Son One's wedding last Friday night. It was absolutely beautiful. Not a dry eye during the moving ceremony and heartfelt toasts at the reception.Son One and his gorgeous wife are so obviously in love and so incredibly happy...yet with the the realistic groundedness that comes from having been together for 3 years, raising a child together from DIL's previous marriage, buying and fixing up a home together, and working full-time in jobs that do not reflect their professional capabilities. (But they feel lucky to have employment at all.) These "kids" are starting their marriage with love in their hearts, but not necessarily stars in their eyes. This should work out.
We've been the onsite parents for wedding support and planning since DIL's family lives far away from here. All were in town for the wedding, we in-laws meeting for the first time. They are friendly, generous people who obviously love their daughter and their other 4 grown children who were here also. I loved how much they all smiled! We hosted everyone for the rehearsal, day of wedding bride and bridesmaids prep, and day after wedding get-together for gift opening, so we saw quite a lot of each other even outside the wedding itself.
It was a bit like "Meet the Fockers" at times, but with a twist. Hub and I are Unitarian Universalist, Buddhist-leaning, meditation-sitting, Yoga-posturing, Kirtan-chanting, Obama-loving Liberal Democrats, but with a bent toward agendas and organization and punctuality, especially where event planning comes in. They seemed to be Catholic Christian, FOX-news watching, Tea Party-leaning Republican Conservatives, but with a free floating, free spirit, go-with-the-flow attitude toward organization and timeframes. Just imagine.
Those differences were interesting to note, and I am certain they were duly noted by our counterparts as well. Yet also true is that we are all good, caring people who love our kids beyond reason. We all had a lovely time at the wedding. And that is what was important this week -- more important than politics or differences in personal style.
And now, if you'll excuse me, my inner Introvert is screaming for solitude and quiet. I have a bag full of yarn, a DVR full of favorite TV show season premiers, and a 'fridge full of leftovers. I will come out of hibernation in a few days. Maybe.
At least, that's the view from here...©
