The Lighthouse: Part Two

Here we go... We're walking down the aisle. My daddy is going to give me away in just a few minutes. Just got to get down these stairs made of--SNAG, TRIP (a little) and RECOVER-- pointy rocks, around the fountain and into the gazebo. This is going to be short, sweet, and to the point. If my bridesmaids start crying I am going to have to shoot them... deep breath, walk, walk, walk...



As we walked down the aisle in the 80 degree sun, I looked around at everyone standing in the midst of row after row of blooming roses. My cousin was playing beautiful, whimsical music on her piano. I had told her to pick whatever she thought would sound best, as long as it wasn't too traditional. And now she was playing, and we were walking, and people were standing (why were they standing? I specifically said I didn't want anyone to stand while I walked down the aisle. Ugh, oh well) and soon we would be up front at the gazebo, saying our vows.

The bridesmaids were gorgeous. The groomsmen were handsome (and hot--it was eighty degrees and we were outside). The ceremony was short and to the point (which was excellent, because it was eighty degrees). The highlight was my mother singing The Lord's Prayer unexpectedly. She didn't tell anyone except Uncle Howard since he was officiating. She didn't even tell my dad. She said she didn't want to commit to doing it in case she didn't feel well that day and wouldn't be up to it. But, she stood up after the blessing and started singing. Immediately I could hear someone start crying. Elissha. It has to be Elissha. Well, I will shoot her later, I thought. Then I heard another sniffle. And another. Soon my entire row of strong supporters was sniffling and wiping away tears. Oh, hell. Then I was sniffling and wiping away tears. Thank God for water-proof mascara.

The vows were recited. Uncle Howard told Mike that he could slip in the omitted, "obey" phrase for fifty dollars. Luckily, Mike decided not to take him up on that offer. We kissed. We smiled. We were pelted with what felt like twenty pounds of bird seed. We took picture after picture after picture. And it was wonderful. Wonderful because we were now together, wonderful because so many of our friends and family were there to help us celebrate, and wonderful because for a little while we could pretend like we were all going to live happily ever after. And it really felt like that could be true on July 31, 2004.