A Wedding at Promise Rock

Or, well, a wedding at my parents’ house.

My mom’s best friend (and former sister-in-law) was married in my parents’ backyard on Saturday– and it was lovely.  The couple decorated rustically– and if you think that means they copped out, you weren’t there to see two strong men move the cake, which was balanced on a thick slab of raw wood.

Seriously– the decor was charming, and there was dancing on my parents’ back porch, and the couple (which I photographed, but decided not to post pictures of, since it was their day, and, well, I’m pretty sure they disapprove of much of what I stand for) had been down this walk before.  It was lovely to see two people believing in second and third chances and inviting their family there to celebrate it.

 What’s funny is that I’m writing Jeff and Collin’s wedding, which opens up the final Promise Rock book, and while I was there, at THIS wedding, I heard Jeff’s snarky voice, giving commentary on the decor.

“The mismatched wildflowers in the assortment of decanters with the burlap sacking as a bow?  Pinterest, girlfriend!  The cake too– isn’t it to die?”

Of course, Jon’s service would have been longer and more eloquent than the quietly ordained minister at this wedding (who apparently choked on the two pages of remarks his wife had written out for him and simply said, “Marriage is a bond between a man and a woman, M–, do you take this woman… ”  etc.  Two minute service. If it hadn’t been for that, uhm, you know, thing at the beginning, would have been sheer perfection!)

But in spite of that, and the heavy heat of the mid-September day, it was a time for much rejoicing, as you can see by Squish, who was positive that everybody was gathered there to see her, wearing the bunny ears and dancing her little heart out at the end of the night.  It was funny– she danced, Zoomboy danced, and at the end when we went to get them, all the pretty girls dancing together (there’s always a bunch, at every wedding) all waved and said, in chorus, “Goodbye, Squish!  Goodbye, Zoomboy!” and they felt as if they’d made friends.

I remember being like they were–the only kid of a certain age at family functions.  The bride’s children were too young to have children of their own, and way too old to be the class pet.

Anyway, they were the wedding mascots, and they were given much adoration at the end of it, and my older kids talked with their cousins and enjoyed themselves.  It was a good time, and I was happy.

I also, as I said, got lots of material.  It’s like you NEED to go to a wedding or hold a baby at certain intervals, otherwise you forget what that part of your life was like, and that’s a real shame.  Today I went to visit my aunt, who was at my grandmother’s house, and grandma isn’t doing well.  She’s in her nineties, and she’s aging at lightning speed, and it’s hard, because she used to be so quick and so vital, even last year she was quick and vital, and not frail and far away.  I think a life of weddings and babies needs to be savored and enjoyed–it means that when you are frail and far away, that part of you that celebrated will still be with you, and you will stay real and here on earth and grounded for as long as you are needed.

Sorry– got philosophical and sad there for a moment.  Forgive me.  Let’s just say weddings and babies are wonderful, and so are children whirlwind dancing until ten o’clock at night, but still, quiet times aren’t a bad thing either.  In fact, although this picture here, this last one, was taken before the wedding, as Mate and Squish dozed away their frantic morning on the soccer field, it pretty much captures our mood for today.  Yes, yes, parties are very nice, but given time, all good bunnies are also made stronger by a little bit of rest.