A good friend of mine had invited me to the wedding of his youngest son last Saturday. The chapel was newer with nice cushioned seats, surround sound stereo, theater style lighting system and two large projector screens on either side of the stage. Photos of the soon to be newly weds rotated on the screens as their favorite country music played over the speakers. There was one song I’d never heard before about how they were like ‘Johnny and June’. I thought that was a great reference to two people deeply in love and meant to be together.
I couldn’t help but notice that the young woman was smiling in every photo. It wasn’t a half-hearted, polite smile-for-the-camera sort of smile. It was a deep, truly happy-to-be-with-this-man sort of smile. I’ve been to several weddings over the years and never saw this kind of deliriously happy bride. It was obvious they had a connection.
Up on the stage the bride and groom held hands and looked at each other as they stood before the minister. I couldn’t see the groom’s face from where I sat but the bride’s eyes sparkled , she smiled and actually laughed as though she couldn’t believe her good fortune.
There was a small program with a list of the bride’s maids and groomsmen and all the other participants, their names and relationship to the bride & groom. On the back was ‘In loving memory of . . . ‘ above a list of departed grandparents. Nowhere was there any mention of the father of the bride. I couldn’t help but think that it was probably what my daughter’s wedding program looked like.
I asked my friend what the story was behind her dad. “Oh when she was in high school, he ran off with a woman 20 years younger. Ever since then she’s never had a thing to do with him. Can’t say as I blame her.”
Though I could understand it too, it was still very sad.
After the ceremony we all gathered at a local restaurant for dinner and dance. In the course of the evening I found out my friend’s other daughter in law was walking a black dog.
Her older sister is dying of breast cancer and only has a week or so left. She’s in the Navy and an officer was coming to award her a medal for her service before she passes. Another sister had a tumor removed from her thyroid and was in the process of further tests for cancer. . . and finally her other sister had found a lump in her breast.
I can well imagine how this young woman is feeling. It’s devastating enough to lose a loved one, but to have so much all at once . . . Her mother in law told me “She’s on 2 anti-depressants.”
I hope and pray they work for her.
So there you have it, the yin and yang of life. Extreme happiness & optimism and overwhelming sadness.
On another note - If you’ve been wondering why my posts have gotten fewer it’s because I’ve been painting every chance I get. I think I’m finally back in the swing of it. Yea me.
A good friend of mine had invited me to the wedding of his youngest son last Saturday. The chapel was newer with nice cushioned seats, surround sound stereo, theater style lighting system and two large projector screens on either side of the stage. Photos of the soon to be newly weds rotated on the screens as their favorite country music played over the speakers. There was one song I’d never heard before about how they were like ‘Johnny and June’. I thought that was a great reference to two people deeply in love and meant to be together.
I couldn’t help but notice that the young woman was smiling in every photo. It wasn’t a half-hearted, polite smile-for-the-camera sort of smile. It was a deep, truly happy-to-be-with-this-man sort of smile. I’ve been to several weddings over the years and never saw this kind of deliriously happy bride. It was obvious they had a connection.
Up on the stage the bride and groom held hands and looked at each other as they stood before the minister. I couldn’t see the groom’s face from where I sat but the bride’s eyes sparkled , she smiled and actually laughed as though she couldn’t believe her good fortune.
There was a small program with a list of the bride’s maids and groomsmen and all the other participants, their names and relationship to the bride & groom. On the back was ‘In loving memory of . . . ‘ above a list of departed grandparents. Nowhere was there any mention of the father of the bride. I couldn’t help but think that it was probably what my daughter’s wedding program looked like.
I asked my friend what the story was behind her dad. “Oh when she was in high school, he ran off with a woman 20 years younger. Ever since then she’s never had a thing to do with him. Can’t say as I blame her.”
Though I could understand it too, it was still very sad.
After the ceremony we all gathered at a local restaurant for dinner and dance. In the course of the evening I found out my friend’s other daughter in law was walking a black dog.
Her older sister is dying of breast cancer and only has a week or so left. She’s in the Navy and an officer was coming to award her a medal for her service before she passes. Another sister had a tumor removed from her thyroid and was in the process of further tests for cancer. . . and finally her other sister had found a lump in her breast.
I can well imagine how this young woman is feeling. It’s devastating enough to lose a loved one, but to have so much all at once . . . Her mother in law told me “She’s on 2 anti-depressants.”
I hope and pray they work for her.
So there you have it, the yin and yang of life. Extreme happiness & optimism and overwhelming sadness.
On another note - If you’ve been wondering why my posts have gotten fewer it’s because I’ve been painting every chance I get. I think I’m finally back in the swing of it. Yea me.