Wedding Memories and other Stories-- The Strange Similarities

A year in the planning, I am going back down memories two lane highway again and try and relive the last highlights of a wedding in the making. Each time something we get ticked off the to do list it was an accomplishment for us. I sometimes had my doubts on whether it was going to be accomplished with all the wrenches that were thrown into the plans especially on the financial end of it. We had a major repair to the truck which caused a headache and moments of panic the end of last year but once the words of wisdom from David came that "it always gets taken care of" we were back on the right path and with less than six months left before Jennifer and Scott's big day I just wanted to see the day through.

Jennifer and I did the "wedding planning" with just a little help from a few. Flash back to my day almost 29 years ago, David and I had a small (only 50) at our wedding. We planned and paid for every little detail. I remember my dress was only $150, although it wasn't the first one I tried on (Jennifer fell in love with the first dress she tried on) my dress fit just right and only needed a few pink flowers removed from the front. Flash to the food we kept our budget small and only had finger foods while Jennifer's was a down-home catered full meal. I am now on the "no eat diet". Both of our cakes were to die for and beautiful, I remember we had a glass blow cake topper that couldn't seem to get to the cake maker without getting broke and then a second time before we even had our cake made, then once again in an earthquake several years later, not sure if it was bad luck but I wouldn't recommend glass blown cake toppers to couples.

We spent Friday evening, and Saturday morning decorating Jennifer's venue. She chose artificial and fresh flower mixtures and a local woman did decorating with lights and fabric. It definitely turned a fairgrounds room into a beautiful setting. David and I had paper bells and paper garlands. Another similarity was that our colors were purple/lavender and grey, Jennifer's was deep purple and green's. Interesting on how purple has crossed 5 generations of females in our family.. Hummmm great minds think alike maybe.

The ceremony was religious yet fitting in similar ways but the one beautiful moment in Jennifer's was at one point the pastor made a comment to the fact that for those who couldn't be with us they were there in spirit and with those words a sudden light breeze came through the Highway Gardens as if like a sign from the heaven's above: Grandparents, friends, and other's who would have loved to be there in body I know.  Another similarity was that our original preachers that we met with had to back out at the last minute due to conflicts and preacher number two's stepped in.

We planned things down to the very end but yet both of us had a forgotten item. Our wedding I spent hours making birdseed bags to have the guests throw at us after the ceremony. Those days are frowned upon now due to birdseed not only being a mess but many other reasons. I had recommended bubbles be blown (we brought them but forgot to put them out) and we didn't put the guestbook our at the ceremony. Oh well you can't remember everything.

I know for sure that the pictures the photographer took will all be beautiful. Catherine Rhodes was a fellow alumni from the same school Jennifer went to photography school with (Hallmark). My small book of photos was taken by a friend of my maid of honor, took me months to get and never got any copies of the pictures just had all the originals. Oh well at least I am fortunate to have those still.

Life is full of similarities, some on purpose others by fate..God has his plan, ours has been blessed for   almost 29 years, I hope Jennifer's is blessed that long if not longer as well. Marriage is a union each must put in 100%. You will argue and you will make up.  I will always believe that marriage is the right highway to go down.

Piercing Trooper

For some it is a right of passage,  other's sometimes go too far piercing body parts that have no business being with one much less multiple holes in them.  When I was a kid my parents told me that when I turned 18 I could get them done (how many times have we heard that saying in our lifetime and now find ourselves saying it now).

I was 18 and I went to a local department store, not really entirely sure what to expect. I  knew many people who just disinfected a needle and had a friend stick the needle in their ear, my mother actually had a physician do hers.

Yesterday was unlike many trips to the mall, except our main focus was going to get last minute wedding day items off our continuing list of things to get. At this point a week away and the list is getting shorter by the day.

Our granddaughter, Hadleigh  3, going on 13 was accompanying us on the trip and my daughter, Jennifer asked her as  usual, "Do you want to get your ears pierced?" Mind you her mother has had two such ear piercing stories and also a belly-button piercing story. The first ear piercing for her mother took many tries at getting them done due to the people ahead of her not being "big girls", and she got her belly pierced without our knowledge but after having Hadleigh let that hole close up (good choice I said).

We planned our attack plan of the mall and each store we entered and exited we asked her if she wanted to get her ears done, each time with a resounding "YES". I mentioned to my daughter it might be better to make the candy store the last stop in that we could reward a good experience with the candy.

We entered the store, walking around looking at all the other jewelry displayed. Of course she wanted her April birthstone ( I proceed to tell her Dad she would of course want real diamonds for Christmas). The clerk asked her if she was ready and she nodded and the clerk proceeded to hand her a large stuffed bear to hold if she wanted. What little girl is going to turn down holding a big plush bear? Every customer that passed the window admired what a "big girl" she was and motioned to us watching her sit there so patiently. We informed the clerk could you do a double shoot as it was our experience that it was easier for all involved to do it that way. "No problem" we would just have to wait for the second clerk to come in. My daughter and I looked at each other like, "Oh boy this might be the kicker because we would have to wait". I thought of my daughter at this point because she would have decided back in the day to forget the whole ordeal. But, Hadleigh, being who she is sat patiently waiting for the girl.

The time came and with ear guns in hand we all were in anticipation of what expression and experience was to come. We both jumped but with smiles on our faces and surprise---not a peep out of Hadleigh.

She is now part of the girls and boys of all ages, shapes and sizes that adorn ear piercings. Now I just hope she won't asked to have anything else pierced in her lifetime. Oh well, her mom will thank goodness have to deal with that time when it comes. I just hope I am around to experience it with the both of them down the road.