This last weekend was one of those times when I felt like a grown-up. I was surrounded by family and friends; we were witnessing one of life's eternal, unchanging ceremonies, and I was wearing high heels. This (the high heels part) only happens when something truly important and out of the ordinary happens.
I wonder why we celebrate some events by altering ourselves into something (someone?) so different from the everyday. I can't complain too much, I was complimented many times for looking wonderful which, I suppose, made it all worthwhile. (Thank you hair and makeup people!) However, it's possible that I looked the way I did because I was part of an amazing circle of love and joy which happens all to rarely in life.
My son married the woman he loves. I now, officially, have a daughter.
They have been together for some years, having met several years ago while they were both attending college (Go Bears!). They have since graduated, found jobs, and settled into a life together. She became a daughter to us in all the ways that mattered; we shared holidays and vacations, inside jokes and some dark times. And I finally got to buy a few "girlie things" for Christmas and birthdays. This is because my son is my only child.One of the most striking things, for me anyway, is that both he and his wife are "only children." I don't know anything about the odds for it, but I wonder how many times it happens that only children are attracted to each other. I do think (in all modesty) that if you met them, you wouldn't realize that they were "onlies." Neither of them act like it; they don't display any sense of "the world revolves around me" I've seen in some only children.
I was thinking about this "onlyness" (if that's a word?) this weekend when I watched and talked with the wonderful, caring people who make up the supportive circle of friends created by my son and (now) daughter. It was a joy to be swept up in the excitement of wedding weekend--I was immediately accepted as "one of the girls"--and revel in the humor, love and support on display. It was a stressful time, making sure everything happened at the right time, but the most important thing for everyone was to take care of each other. No one complained, no one tried to take center stage, no one got angry; they all worked to make the day a beautiful one and were moved to tears when their turn came to share a blessing during the ceremony.
I am so truly blessed; not just by having a loving son and a new daughter. I also know that they understand why it was so important that we were all dressed like grown-ups. It was because that's who we are; especially for this eternal, unchanging ceremony of life.
