The Kiss

Kiss the bride! Another wedding photo- and for those of you that couldn't attend, the wedding day story:

It was cold that morning, clear but very cold- we rounded up the boy and headed over to the hotel to meet everyone for coffee and plans. The fellows headed out to home depot in search of the traditional wedding toilet, Grendel and Gabe back to the house to play video games, and the Sisters (Suzy, Barbie, Me and Melissa and Michelle) to Sams... where we snacked happily on samples, acquired the cakes and the flowers and bubbly grape juice for toasting. Then we went over to the dollar store for balloons, and became quite giddy collecting other wedding stuff including a tiara, garter, and clapping hands....

Then we went back over to the auction house, set out the cakes and things, one final check of plans and a quick look around. On to the hotel for the dressing of the bride! In the meantime, the toilet was delivered home (it wouldn't fit in the trunk, so it rode in back-seat splendor)... and the guys did guy stuff like eat lunch, take power naps (or intentional power naps...I don't think that really materialized) and Charles hung out at the auction house with the picture until the last moment...

So far so good, until the dressing of the bride. The underdressing was ok- pantyhose, dress-sausage-shaper thing, makeup and hair.... but the dress itself? fit fine the day before, but acquired a zipper disaster... first it stuck. then it separated. then it got all catywampus off track and refused to do anything at all. Much panicking, a frantic call to Sister Sue and a mad dash to the gas station for safety pins. Head over heels, a thousand safety pins later and it is on, more or less. The shawl is draped around and secured with even more pins.... and then the strap of the left shoe breaks. Ok, can tuck it under and handle. Everything is fine if I don't breathe and stand very still..... during this time manz calls, wondering if everything is ok and where we are (time is approaching and I was supposed to be at the auction house 15 minutes ago...) We assure him that all is manageable, I am not backing out but we might be a teensy bit late..... we arrive- meet Grendel and LC outback...no wedding music. That's ok, Jordan is there and will sing- I'll walk down the aisle to that.... untraditional but doable (seems to be a theme for the weddings)...

Grendel and I start down the aisle- everyone is there- the front pins on the dress give way but that is ok as long as I hold my flowers up and keep my arms in.....

Looking around- so many people! the regulars, the family, friends, students- current ones and some from back in my first year of teaching, a few unfamiliar faces that look puzzled (what is a wedding doing at an auction?!?) but happy. The preacher in his black robes, Christmas sweaters, Santa caps, Ariel's golden sparkly evening gown, Neena's explosion of hair and tattered white dress.... Grendel all formal and nervous, Charles looking polished and handsome and just a little frozen in place (we do have a great deer-in-headlights picture of the moment). The ceremony begins- it's traditional and somehow we make it through- a bit teary eyed, and I laughed (I always laugh) but it's meaningful and fun and forever and just grand. The kiss, applauded by the clappers, and it is sealed.

Back down to aisle to congratulations and cake, huge pot of vegetable soup. Posing for photos (send me some! hint hint) shaking hands, hugging. Jordan running around trying to make us a video diary, a concept which was apparently unfamiliar to most people as they didn't know what to do, or did nothing- tis ok, we will cherish what is on it- whatever that may be (haven't seen it yet- not edited.... waiting is the hardest part).... I am being friendly while becoming ever more worried about losing my dress. It's ok. Charles is more nervous now than before the wedding I think, scooped up for photos, trying to get the marriage licence squared away (we had a bad panic moment after the wedding when we couldn't find it- then realized that the preacher was supposed to keep it....) I hug everyone, laugh alot, babble about my dress (I'm the type that tells everything when I'm nervous) have fun. Wedding presents- sheets, a crockpot, photoframes, gift cards, two wedding albums (both are white and fluffy, one is in Spanish) and embroidered towels. Our beloved wife and husband mugs, the toilet. A big glass and iron decorative thing. (actually we opened things later, at home- they are snuggled around the Christmas tree, except for the mugs and crockpot which we are already using)....

Auction goes smoothly- we talk most of the time, watch the manz work, draw a bit (but not much, drawing skills way off tonight) win $50.00. Ada is given the painting, everyone seems to like it, she is touched and cries. Finish up, and the car is decorated with paint and ribbons, magnetic signs and a flag which blew away on the way home.... it is late, and cold, and we are very very happy on this the first night of our new lives. Thank-you, one and all.