They're Coming In From Everywhere

One bridesmaid is here, two more arrive in the morning.  Sons and daughters and their spouses and some children have made their way to the desert.  Aunts and uncles and old friends are checking in and getting settled.

Let's get this party started!

Little Cuter and I spent the day buying the finishing touches - little gifts and silver shoes, conditioner and mini-cupcakes, a garter and a comb for her hair.  We started out with smiles and ended up exhausted.  She's napping as I type.

The desert is dryer than Chicago, and it's higher, too.  The air is thinner and the breathing is more difficult.  With the change in seasons comes a change in the allergens in the air; MOTG may need more than one allergy pill to get through the weekend, TBG has a migraine, my eyes are itchy.  I'm glad monsoon has disappeared; I forgot the scratchy throats that come with fall.

Still, the sun is shining, the clouds are high and fluffy, and love is in the air.  The stress we're feeling is normal when hosting 80 of your nearest and dearest.  We know there is no one who will find fault with anything we do; we just want to make sure that we don't overlook anything.  The rest will take care of itself; everyone here is sharing the love.

We're missing grandparents, but taking steps to include their presence, albeit subtly.  Daddooooo's tallis will be there, as will TBG's family bible. SIR's grandmother's brooch will be pinned to the inside of Little Cuter's dress.  The party favors are set up for display and distribution in the white metal doll carriage Nannie bought for her youngest grandchild on the last shopping excursion she ever took.  We love the ones who are here; we honor those who are not.

This afternoon we went through boxes of her childhood dreams - little glass animals, pogs, weeblies, candles, and beanie babies.  Some we will save for her children to admire when they are here.  Most will be taken to Goodwill.  I may try my hand at selling some of it on ebay; that decision will be made long after the party is consigned to history.

We are heading to the nail salon for a mani/pedi extravaganza, then off to a family dinner which now numbers seventeen.... and counting.  I'll drive to the airport to pick up Intrepid Cat and Niece-the-Youngest and deposit them at JannyLou's.  Then it's off to sleep... perchance to dream.... with visions of sugarplums and smiling brides dancing in my head.

It's a series of hurry-up-and-wait moments, staged against a backdrop of commitment and love.  We've waited eighteen months for this weekend to arrive; it's going by much too quickly.

The ceremony is at 6pm on Saturday night.  Take a moment and think of us, watching the sun set as our children join their hands in marriage.  It doesn't seem quite possible that the little girl who wouldn't let me comb her hair is now the woman at the center of all this marital attention.

I can't help it.... my brain has an earworm... a song that just won't quit.  I'm sure you know what it is before I embed the video below.


I don't know where the time went.  It doesn't matter.  The right now is pretty special.  I'm so glad everyone is here - and you are all out there - sharing the joy.

My baby is getting married.