Of Weddings, Bubbles and Memories

Have you ever been going through a normal day -- no problems, no worries, and have grief come up behind you and smack you in the back of the head?

I went to a wedding today. It was beautiful -- we enjoyed it. Steve and I know the bride and groom enough to say hello in church, but the bride's parents cross our paths more often. The wedding was in our church, and the congregation was heavy with church members.

I was just sitting there, enjoying the music and company, when the processional began. The music which began was Josh Groban's You Raise Me Up -- I challenge anyone to remain emotionless during that song. One of the ushers brought in the grandmother of the bride, and it brought back memories of our own wedding. For our wedding, instead of an usher escorting in the grandmother of the groom, Steve did it. He came down from wherever it is that the groom hides before the wedding and walked her up the aisle, then headed back to the groom hiding place. Seeing a grandmother seated at the wedding reminded me of that, and of my own grandfather attending our wedding. It was the last time I saw him before he died.

Funny how grief can sneak up, have its way with you, and then slink away, back to its hiding place. Once the song was over, and the bridesmaids began their march down the aisle, I was fine. Just a minute or two of missing them, and the sadness was tucked away again. Missing family members is never over, is it?

Instead of rice, we wished the bride and groom good wishes with bubbles. Someone should warn Joe that I've thought of a way to put the question of "to clap or not to clap" out of everyone's mind. I'm bringing the bubbles with me to worship tomorrow.