Since in my last post I was reminiscing about my grandfather, I have been thinking more and more about my family... the ones here... and the ones passed. I have a story I'd like to share about how I got to my decision of the something old and something borrowed I would wear for my wedding day.
To start off with, I have to admit that I really had a great time in the planning process of my wedding. I won't lie... some things did cause stress, but for the most part, I loved it. My husband cracks me up when he tells people, "You know... these things just plan themselves." If any of you have heard him say this, you can just rest assured that he had a big hand in planning our wedding, and he loved it, too! Don't let him fool you that all he did was just "show up". He cracks me up.
So, back to my story. I want to shed a little background. I have a great-grandmother who I do not remember. I met her only once, and I was only two weeks old. From descriptions and stories I've heard shared mostly by my mother and grandmother, my great-grandmother sounds like she was a wonderful, wonderful woman. She sounds loving, caring, nurturing... She sounds like she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend... She sounds like she never wanted to be the center of attention, but that she had a great sense of humor. She sounds like someone who if I heard them described to me, I would want to be their friend...
While my mother was expecting with me, my great-grandmother got very sick. The diagnosis was cancer. With my birth soon approaching, her condition worsened. My mother recalled to me that when my great-grandmother realized that she would not be around long after I was born, her concern was about my dad. You see, my mom had a scheduled cesarean with me, and would be laid up for awhile. With this concern my great-grandmother had about my dad, she asked, "Who is going to take care of him and do his laundry?" How sweet, sad, and (pardon me), hilarious. Here she was, terminally ill, and she was worried about my dad and his clean clothes. That story always made me sad, but it also brought a smile to my face. What an incredible woman to still be thinking of others before herself when she was in such a state. As time went by, I was born, and thankfully my great-grandmother was still alive. I had a bad case of jaundice, so I had to stay in the hospital for a longer period of time. Once I was able to come home, I was brought to see my great-grandmother. My mother has told me that she remembers her holding me and talking to me, but that her voice was so weak that my mom could barely make out what she was saying. Very shortly afterward (possibly within days), my great-grandmother passed away. My mother tells me that my great-grandmother waited for me before she left us. This thought has always made an impression on my mind and in my heart. I marveled that this wonderful woman in my life hung onto her life, even when it was painful, just to see me... me... little old me. I always felt a connection with her. I have tried to live my life in a way that would have hopefully made her "waiting for me" worth it. I feel like I know her, even though I don't remember her. I once told my mother, "I didn't even know her," and she responded, "She knew you..."
Fast forward to about two years ago. My husband and I are engaged, and our wedding day is soon approaching. Everything is falling into place, and we feel very good about the planning. There was only one thing I was completely stumped on.... I had no idea of what to wear for my something old and something borrowed. I remember one day I was visiting with my mother at her home. We were having a really great time. Then, I asked her for a suggestion of what to where for my something old and something borrowed. Guess what? She was stumped, too... Then, in just a few moments of silence, both of us just wracking our brains, we both shot a look at each other that said, "I GOT IT!" For another moment we were silent, but just staring at each other with big eyes. It was truly at the SAME MOMENT. I told her, "What are you thinking?" She asked, "What are you thinking?" I asked, again, and so did she. I bit the bullet and told her that I had a thought about borrowing my great-grandmother's wedding ring which she has. I was nervous asking this question because it is something very precious, and I would have understood if my mother felt uncomfortable with the idea. Instead, she SHOT UP out off the couch, scurried into her room, and brought out a green box. She gave me the ring to try on, and she told me that she had the SAME THOUGHT at the SAME TIME I DID. I tried it on my right ring finger (but already knowing it would fit because I used to try it on when I was in high school, and it fit like a glove then, and it still did). When I heard that we had the same thought at the same exact time, I said, "She must be here and really wants me to wear it." My mom told me that she would be tickled pink if she knew I was wearing her wedding ring on my wedding day. This whole experience made my heart swell. Then, my mom (for kicks) showed me another wedding ring. It belonged to my great-grandmother's sister. We got a really good laugh because, although it is gorgeous, the band is HUGE! It was completely loose around my thumb! She must have had very big hands. But, the setting on this ring (she was my great-great aunt) was to die for! It is a setting that most girls these days would go Ga-Ga for. So, even though we laughed about the size of the band (and it was purely a laughter of love), I guess you could say that the joke was on us. This still makes me laugh................ I also remember laughing in that moment and thinking to myself, "If they could both be here right now, I hope they would be having as much fun as we were having."
Fast forward to my wedding day. It was fantastic, and I got to wear my great-grandmother's wedding ring. One last memory I want to share. It was the morning I got married. I woke up early, went outside and looked over the ocean. I thought about all the people who I have loved in my life who are not physically with us in body. I knew they would be apart of our day in spirit. This brought great comfort to me.
Thank you for reading. After writing this blog, it makes me feel very fortunate and grateful for the wonderful family and friends in my life. I hope you all enjoyed accompanying me on my trip down memory lane...
Happy Tuesday to you and yours...
To start off with, I have to admit that I really had a great time in the planning process of my wedding. I won't lie... some things did cause stress, but for the most part, I loved it. My husband cracks me up when he tells people, "You know... these things just plan themselves." If any of you have heard him say this, you can just rest assured that he had a big hand in planning our wedding, and he loved it, too! Don't let him fool you that all he did was just "show up". He cracks me up.
So, back to my story. I want to shed a little background. I have a great-grandmother who I do not remember. I met her only once, and I was only two weeks old. From descriptions and stories I've heard shared mostly by my mother and grandmother, my great-grandmother sounds like she was a wonderful, wonderful woman. She sounds loving, caring, nurturing... She sounds like she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend... She sounds like she never wanted to be the center of attention, but that she had a great sense of humor. She sounds like someone who if I heard them described to me, I would want to be their friend...
While my mother was expecting with me, my great-grandmother got very sick. The diagnosis was cancer. With my birth soon approaching, her condition worsened. My mother recalled to me that when my great-grandmother realized that she would not be around long after I was born, her concern was about my dad. You see, my mom had a scheduled cesarean with me, and would be laid up for awhile. With this concern my great-grandmother had about my dad, she asked, "Who is going to take care of him and do his laundry?" How sweet, sad, and (pardon me), hilarious. Here she was, terminally ill, and she was worried about my dad and his clean clothes. That story always made me sad, but it also brought a smile to my face. What an incredible woman to still be thinking of others before herself when she was in such a state. As time went by, I was born, and thankfully my great-grandmother was still alive. I had a bad case of jaundice, so I had to stay in the hospital for a longer period of time. Once I was able to come home, I was brought to see my great-grandmother. My mother has told me that she remembers her holding me and talking to me, but that her voice was so weak that my mom could barely make out what she was saying. Very shortly afterward (possibly within days), my great-grandmother passed away. My mother tells me that my great-grandmother waited for me before she left us. This thought has always made an impression on my mind and in my heart. I marveled that this wonderful woman in my life hung onto her life, even when it was painful, just to see me... me... little old me. I always felt a connection with her. I have tried to live my life in a way that would have hopefully made her "waiting for me" worth it. I feel like I know her, even though I don't remember her. I once told my mother, "I didn't even know her," and she responded, "She knew you..."
Fast forward to about two years ago. My husband and I are engaged, and our wedding day is soon approaching. Everything is falling into place, and we feel very good about the planning. There was only one thing I was completely stumped on.... I had no idea of what to wear for my something old and something borrowed. I remember one day I was visiting with my mother at her home. We were having a really great time. Then, I asked her for a suggestion of what to where for my something old and something borrowed. Guess what? She was stumped, too... Then, in just a few moments of silence, both of us just wracking our brains, we both shot a look at each other that said, "I GOT IT!" For another moment we were silent, but just staring at each other with big eyes. It was truly at the SAME MOMENT. I told her, "What are you thinking?" She asked, "What are you thinking?" I asked, again, and so did she. I bit the bullet and told her that I had a thought about borrowing my great-grandmother's wedding ring which she has. I was nervous asking this question because it is something very precious, and I would have understood if my mother felt uncomfortable with the idea. Instead, she SHOT UP out off the couch, scurried into her room, and brought out a green box. She gave me the ring to try on, and she told me that she had the SAME THOUGHT at the SAME TIME I DID. I tried it on my right ring finger (but already knowing it would fit because I used to try it on when I was in high school, and it fit like a glove then, and it still did). When I heard that we had the same thought at the same exact time, I said, "She must be here and really wants me to wear it." My mom told me that she would be tickled pink if she knew I was wearing her wedding ring on my wedding day. This whole experience made my heart swell. Then, my mom (for kicks) showed me another wedding ring. It belonged to my great-grandmother's sister. We got a really good laugh because, although it is gorgeous, the band is HUGE! It was completely loose around my thumb! She must have had very big hands. But, the setting on this ring (she was my great-great aunt) was to die for! It is a setting that most girls these days would go Ga-Ga for. So, even though we laughed about the size of the band (and it was purely a laughter of love), I guess you could say that the joke was on us. This still makes me laugh................ I also remember laughing in that moment and thinking to myself, "If they could both be here right now, I hope they would be having as much fun as we were having."
Fast forward to my wedding day. It was fantastic, and I got to wear my great-grandmother's wedding ring. One last memory I want to share. It was the morning I got married. I woke up early, went outside and looked over the ocean. I thought about all the people who I have loved in my life who are not physically with us in body. I knew they would be apart of our day in spirit. This brought great comfort to me.
Thank you for reading. After writing this blog, it makes me feel very fortunate and grateful for the wonderful family and friends in my life. I hope you all enjoyed accompanying me on my trip down memory lane...
Happy Tuesday to you and yours...
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