Happy

you know!

There are days...

when we don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Like when a nurse 

asks a 4 yr old to get up against the wall at the end of the hall 

so she can check his eyes

and turns to find this

Oh no he didn't...
yes, sadly, he did.

There are too many days
when we laugh AND cry.

Indeed

On the other hand...

I grew up in a house with a lot of 'holiday rules'... 

the primary one being 

that Christmas didn't 'come out' 

until the dishes from Thanksgiving

 had been dried and put away.

If the adults weren't too drunk,

busy playing poker 

or passed out from turkey overload on the couch,

the kids would whine, cajole and needle them

until at least the Christmas albums were brought out;

with Johnny Mathis, 

the Mormon Tabernacle choir 

and

Andy Williams 

giving us the promise of things to come! 

Maybe there weren't trees or the Nativity on Thanksgiving night

but the season always started then -

and, for years, I kept that tradition alive.

However,

If you're not cooking Thanksgiving dinner

or having guests on Turkey Day

but you ARE having guests the whole weekend after Thanksgiving 

AND the staff Christmas party the first week in December,

then this weekend was the designated one to decorate!

And, while the tree may be up,

the tinsel thrown,

the Santas in their places

and the stockings hung,

I'll concede to tradition - 

and not plug the twinkle lights in until next Friday!

Next...

Wedding's done.

Fall feels over.

 Movin' on to Christmas.

Quiet reigns again

After the commotion of family and friends gathered for celebration,

the house, and I, are settling into our routines of

quiet,

reflection

and space to breathe.

Mr and Mrs.

Now you will feel no rain, 

for each of you will be shelter to the other. 

Now you will feel no cold, 

for each of you will be warmth to the other. 

Now there is no loneliness,

for each of you will be companion to the other.

You are two persons, 

but there is only one life before you.

You will take each other’s hand
and you’ll turn together to look at the road you traveled 
to reach this hour of happiness. 

It stretches behind you and the future lies ahead. 

A long and winding road to be traveled together 

whose every turn reveals new discoveries, 

new laughter, 

renewed hopes and shared tears. 

May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. 

May happiness be your companion and may your days together be good and long upon the earth. 

The Main Event

It was lovely - 

and you'll have to take my word for it - 

because I have few pictures
of my own.

The venue was great!

and the bride and groom worked VERY hard to get everything ready.

All the centerpieces,

the 'candy bar',

the backdrop...

all their own creations.

I remember the service,

cutting the cake.

dancing 

and a photo booth.

I remember the mother/son dance,

laughing with friends, known for decades,

and, of course, family.

I think it was everything they'd hoped for...

it was wonderful.

It is indeed!

Wedding Day attire

Here's what I thought I'd wear!

Here was my next option - 

when I decided that only the bride 

should wear white and be sparkly.

Here's what I ended up wearing 

when the green made me feel drab

and like I was wearing camouflage.

Much better!

I LOVED the red silk jacket;

it made me feel festive!

Good thing this girl had choices!

An exception...

to the no photography edict!

I was asked - by the bride - to take pictures of the guys getting ready.

The 'real' photographer was needed over with the girls

and I was pressed into service.

The only problem?

They had NO desire to have their pictures taken 'getting ready'.

They got dressed in another room 

and only agreed to a few perfunctory shots!

I guess the important thing is, 

they cleaned up nicely!

Dear DIL,

I tried!

The 'tribe'

And I don't use the word that word lightly...

While I've had the pleasure of meeting her before, 

for some folks,

 this was the first chance they've had to meet Ari -

the newest member of the family!

 Truth to be told, however, 

she doesn't have eyes for anyone other than her Pa!

 

That's OK... 

there are a few kids who will teach her pretty quickly 

how much fun it is to be one of the pack!

Contrary to type

I did something that is becoming increasingly difficult in this world of social media, 

instant communication and the compulsion to chronicle 

every event in our personal lives. 

I decided to be in the moment - 

without documenting it.

I decided to spend several of the most important nights

in my sons life 

and be Mom -

not a photographer,

not an event coordinator,

not a spectator removed behind a camera lens.  

I decided to be present,

to talk to family and friends,

to enjoy my sons happiness 

and, in turn, I increased my own!

It also means however 

I have to rely on others for their pictures.

The rehearsal dinner couldn't have been better -

and I loved the decision to use only white flowers 

for the centerpieces and let the vases be the only color.

The food was fabulous,

conversations laughter filled

and the evening was deemed a huge success 

by members of both tribes!

Couldn't have asked for more!