Whoop

High winds and hot. Reluctant to venture, we took our glad rags to D's parents to take via car, to the wedding. A suit is best not rolled into a gym bag. So, suit and pants, skirt and blouse, tie and shirt, all pressed, hanging in a garment bag and riding in their car. FIL going to be wearing a rented tux, poor guy. He's not overjoyed. Probably doesn't help that this is the last of his sons to marry, and the 8th wedding of his offspring. The shine is off, so to speak.


The parents-in-law are getting older, and less patient of the whoopdeedoo of a formal wedding, even with for their dear son. Especially since it involves their second trip west in as many months. Which means we are off the hook for the Sunday gathering (which we were going to passively ignore anyway) and definitely not required at the foto-shoot. They just don't care anymore, at least not enough to try to make us do more.

They are disappointed that all the sons won't be in the photos, but two (of five) are absent for spouses with health issues anyway. Leaving us less encumbered as a result. Hard to see them so tired and stressed, though. We are on alert to keep them cheerful, and cared for, I think. Fair enough, I'm good at being bulldog. With D and I, and his other brother and SIL, we'll protect 'em. Bridegroom Son is going to be busy and blinkered. But with their back-up, I will gladly take on the role of bad-guy protector. I got no problem with that at all. Uh uh honey. I'm on it. I'm thinking my SIL will be as well, with our gentle spouses nodding approvingly. They both married hard-headed women, and like it like that.

I defend the bride, since this is a wedding disguised as a reunion for her extended and scattered family. And she and BIL are a sweetly well-matched couple. But first, I take care of the 'rents. MIL hurt her knee last month, and I became her nurse, so she gets dibs on my protective instincts. Thems the rules.

UPS guy, that knows D from the library, at our apartment building today. D says hi, UPS guy tells me D is "A keeper!" I agree, of course. Tell D on the way out he seems to have 'kept' so far. Lovely to hear him chortle. Nearly twenty years together. Eighteen years living together as of tomorrow. Nearly seventeen years legal. MIL touched that we still have the mylar balloon she got for the extremely low-key wedding we had in their living room, and remembered the angel food cake she made for us. Well, of course I remember my wedding day, no matter how simple. I had not a moment of doubt, not the slightest qualm. I wanted to live my life with D, no doubt, no hesitation. I was sick with the flu when we signed the papers, my memory a bit blurred from fever, with all the brothers (save the oldest, long ago moved away) on the sofa, made to wear ties (not by us) and with the local (Mormon) bishop to officiate. But I have definite, if congested, memories. Yeah, I'm glad we got married, and grateful beyond all belief.

I still think ours the most perfect of weddings. The start of a great marriage. Hey, I had a dress. Blue. Results that count. I regret not a moment spent with D, he is my blessing and my great joy.

Given up on cleaning today. Will do the rest this long weekend.