Airplanes, Weddings and Mother's Day

In May 2009, my little cousin was getting married. She and her fiance, Jon, had been together for several years in and out of college. So, mom and I left from Colorado by plane to head to southern California. Only, mom would be staying and I would return to Colorado on my own. This would be a true test to see how I was doing having to travel by myself again.

I had always been a pro at traveling alone. I was never afraid of it. I rather enjoyed taking off to a destination and being greeted at the airport upon arrival. The only difference now was that I was handicapped. No big deal, right?

Mom and I arrived in California on Thursday. We needed time to be able to get to the rehearsal at the church on Friday, so we came in early to make sure we didn't have any plane delays keeping us from the festivities. Friday rolled around and I hitched a ride with my grandparents who needed to be there early as my grandmother was being escorted down that aisle as part of my cousins family. We don't have a very large family, so we have to make do with what we have. It was good to greet my cousins as they hadn't seen me since Christmas. It was a nice time watching the wedding rehearsal.

My grandparents during rehearsal.

My parents came not long after the rehearsal ended. Now was the time for the dinner. Our small family slowly made our way to the dining room where we were going to be. I got my cousins attention and showed her how well I had progressed since she last saw me. I was able to walk a short distance holding my single point cane and not using it. But, because of the wobble I had to walk with to do this, I made sure I didn't go too far without using the cane.

Once inside, all of the bridal party was gathering around in bunches as they knew everyone else. Our little family was out of place as we only knew the bride, her parents and the groom. Not much else we could do but try to blend in as best as possible. One of my "little" cousins friends talked with my grandmother for quite some time, but not many others came to see us let alone talk with us. It was a little awkward to say the least. But, we were family and participating none-the-less. And this was about family, not comfort.

That night I went home with mom and dad instead of my grandparents. It made a lot more sense, that way my grandparents could go straight home instead of dropping me at my parents house. My parents and I didn't talk much about the rehearsal or the dinner on the way home, we were tired and wanted to get to bed for the wedding the next day.

We had a few things to do in the morning and very early afternoon before we could head off to the wedding. When we arrived, everything was still closed off so people couldn't be escorted in by the ushers yet. As soon as the sanctuary was ready, the ushers filtered people to seats as quickly as they could. Mom, dad and I were seated next to my grandparents seats as part of the family row. We left two seats for my grandparents and I had my mom sit next to her mom. I sat at the other end of our family so I would have a little more room to move about if I got uncomfortable.

The wedding was nice and went off without any major hitches from what I knew. Some small little mishaps, which are par for the course of any wedding. After the wedding, the family and the bridal party was taking pictures. Mom, dad and I hung out in the back behind the closed doors peaking in at the family. Someone came to the door and said we were to go in for family pictures as well. This was a shock for us because we weren't part of the wedding. But, my "little" cousin felt sad because her family was so small that she wanted my parents and I in the pictures as well. I did my best to get up the steps of the platform with help from my dad and mom. Once up there, I made sure not to move so I wouldn't stumble toward the steps.

We took our family shots and my cousins were all grateful. Mom and dad (and my cousins dad) all helped me down the steps and back to the chairs until pictures were complete. Then we all made our way to our cars and to the reception site at Jon's workplace, a Christian Credit Union with a very large facility. We found ourselves seated at the brides parents table for dinner. We were right at the front of the reception hall near the bride and groom seated with my cousins. Everything was so hectic for them that we barely got to sit and see them for the entire evening.

I have a love/hate relationship with weddings. I love that two people are making a commitment to each in the presence of God and all the witnesses at the wedding. But, I hate that fact that no matter how many weddings I go to, I am always single. That has been a hard thing for me for so many years. And for my "little" cousin to be getting married was a little bit of a sting (not her fault at all). It is just something that God and I still have to work through. Anyhow, I digress. We stayed long enough to see the couple off on their honeymoon and then we went home. We needed to get some more rest as we had a big day on Sunday. It was Mother's Day.

Mom, dad and I at Duke's Huntington Beach for brunch.

After dad and mom got back from church, we met my grandparents at Duke's Huntington Beach. Tis Hawaiian feel restaurant at the top of the Huntington Beach pier was a place we went when we wanted to celebrate. And celebrate we did. We always have a great time at Duke's.

After the weekend festivities were over, I took my maiden voyage back home to Colorado by plane alone. I was very sore from a weekend of being on-the-go, and wished for a few days of rest. However, reality dictated that I go back to work and earn money to live on. My weekend had been good spending it with my family.

Next..."Weekend Colorado Treks."

Reflection:
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21