The Day After

It was her wedding day.

The prior week was spent in finding tables and making tablecloths and who was in charge of the flowergirl basket and had anyone made arrangements to pick up TheInvestment?

She was serene the entire time.

I have been torn on this matter, wishing she'd wait, wishing she'd finish school before she married... wishing she'd realise how much she has in life ahead of her.

She is serene in her choice in life.

She never broke into a sweat or the nerves or came anywhere near a Bridezilla attack. She had her lists and her close circle of friends, two who drove out from Colorado to be part of this day. Her siblings, save the Jarhead, showed up and pitched in. Her dad and I watched in amazement at our baby, who was in complete eagerness to become a wife. She was glad to see all of us, was her usual dry witted self, but, her focus was elsewhere... you could sense this feeling she wasn't complete until he was in sight.

I have had my issues with this marriage, for a number of reasons. I have to put them to rest, because my child, my HRH, adores this man. Not blind adoration, she is aware of faults and deals with them accordingly. She simply needs and wants and desires him in her life. They trust and believe in each other.

We gathered in the area to lace her into her dress... purchased on eBay, for a pittance. It was classic in design, perfectly fitted...she floated. She'd chosen sterling silver roses among the white... knowing those were the ones her dad gave to me the day she was born. Sweetpeas, her dad's nickname for her, were also contained in the bouquet she held. Her something old was the pearl bracelet I'd been given, and a ring from my jewelry box. Aside from that and the pearls on her neck, her only accessories was her obvious happiness.

The wedding was beautiful, with the bridesmaids in different variations of a dress, all in a shade of lilac. A version of the wedding march started, we all swiveled in our seats... and there she was, at the top of the stairs in this bowl of a green pasture, surrounded by trees. She simply stepped out, paused, and started down...and you were riveted by her composure, her smile, the anticipation that radiated from her.

Her dad met her, and you could see them talking... her eyes flickered between him and her husband to be, waiting for her... he couldn't take his eyes off of her.. no one could. Her dad later told me he avoided looking at me, he knew he'd cry then, seeing me cry.

They walked up the aisle, and paused for me to join them. J and I had our hands over each other around her waist in the back. We stopped, I lifted her veil, and whispered, "I love you, a bushel and a peck.." and she smiled... "I love you, Mom". Her dad choked out the words, "I love you." We both answered, "We do" when asked who gave her in marriage... and, then, it was done. She was no longer our little girl.

The look of joy on her face... every bride should wear that.

The reception was a good time. My friends were there, the Sisterwife was her usual hoot of a self. There was a dance floor, wonderful food, a cake that stunned me. We watched her dance with her brother, the one people used to ask me if they were twins... as you can see, now, even with her heels on, the height difference was amusing to watch.

• Her with her dress in her hands, bridesmaids surrounding her, laughing in delight as she stomped away to Cotton Eyed Joe.
• I spent 30 minutes just talking to my ex. Something we've needed to do, closure of some old wounds, opening of new doors, perhaps.
• The sense all will be okay.
  

I had three days of playing grandma or whatever I am supposed to be called... I held my children close..... there are things that happened I have to deal with next week, that may change what I do in regards to returning...

But, for now... my little one is a married lady, and a very happy one at that. This is a good thing.

Everyone is gone but TheInvestment. I've got to find a way to get him to Las Vegas on Monday... for now, he's visiting folk and I'm resting and accepting another part of my life has changed.

Life is funny like that.