My mother had 3 , although the last one lasted nearly 60 years (the first 2 are a story). My dad, 1. His dad, a broken 1. My brother has had 2. My niece is between number 1 and 2. My sister, not even close to 1. Me, snuck close to 1.
This past Saturday, with such role models as the above (most of whom were there
as witness), my favorite nephew wed his one and only. So far. The wedding was
lovely, if not a tiny bit whacky, fitting for at least the groom's side of the
family.
Friday - rehearsal dinner, steaks charcoal broiled by my bro', corn, baked potatoes, salad, and the very important macaroni salad. I sat in the the backyard with a cool mountain breeze blowing through the trees and talked poker with the best man (who lives in Vegas) and the bride's mother's boyfriend. The only thing that could've made that sweeter was playing a game. But that wasn't on the agenda.
After dinner came something that has started to be a little tradition in my family. Tequila shots in the kitchen. Being the bratty lil' sis I am, I grabbed my brother's $20 bottle of hard core tequila (complete with worm) from the freezer and cracked it open. Shots all around toasting the occasion. And then the entourage departed for the local watering hole. Both the bride and the groom had the pleasure of getting completely shit-faced snockered with pals, dad and impending dad-in-law, my brother. A proud papa, indeed. Me? I stayed behind with the kids and watched Animal Planet. Aren't I a good grand-aunt? I ought to get double the frackin' karma points for that.
Saturday - of course the weather didn't cooperate. Unusually cool weather descended along with unseasonal rain. It was an outdoor wedding. The bride was calmed with a bottle of wine. She giggled a bit at the beginning. English wasn't the pastor's first language and asked my nephew if he'd take 'D' as his husband... and it rained. But it was still beautiful. And fun. There was laughter and tears, the couple was gorgeous and I hope they have a long, long, long life together.
Sunday - I took a moment or two while standing in the driveway of my brother's house, a cat was lazily rolling on the warm asphalt of the street, and the subtle sounds of a neighborhood Sunday wafted on a light breeze...I took a moment or two to think about the choices I've made in my 54 years on the planet. By and large I'm happy with how my life has turned out thus far. However, there are bitter sweet times such as this weekend when I'm surrounded by the bonds of family, blossoming love - the pride of a father as he looks on his daughter - no longer the little girl who once stood on his toes as he twirled her around the room; the tears of a mother as she dances with her son - a grown man starting his own family now. I thought about that as I stood on the driveway, I thought about those feelings I will never know, and I sighed - sending those thoughts away to disappear on the winds.
