Weddings

Tom and I attended our twentieth wedding together this weekend, while Edith was along for her second such. There are few things that make me happier than attending weddings. With our friends scattered all over the country these days, an exchange of vows is almost the only occasion that prompts the people we care about to reconvene from hither and yon. Edith's arrival drew lots of visitors to our home, which was marvelous, but they didn't all come at once.

In a wedding, everyone is there together. They are dressed in their best and feeling festive. They reflect the joy of the couple in their dancing, song (especially my friends, who make it a habit to sing each other into matrimony), loving tributes, gustatory pleasure, and time catching up.

I guess that's why I was so struck by a comment the priest made at the wedding this weekend. He noted that the Bible repeatedly compares the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast. I had never thought about it, but once he pointed it out, I realized it was the perfect metaphor for me. The kingdom of heaven: singing, dancing, reunion with loved ones from far and near, celebrating the best in others, basking in communal joy. I could get excited about such a kingdom.

Edith seemed to understand some of the joy of weddings already, for she was at her best. She didn't fuss too much about much car travel--not only to the wedding but back and forth from music rehearsals at the church to the hotel for changing to the ceremony to the reception and back to our hosts' home. Hopefully she is slowly growing out of her aversion to the carseat. She also listened patiently to the rehearsal of the wedding choir; I hope she is getting used to the idea of making music with friends.

She had smiles for everyone and plenty to spare. She greeted the bride with an enthusiastic grab at her bouquet. All our friends there were meeting her for the first time and were full of hugs and tickles. She responded with giggles. She let the bride's grandmother pinch her cheeks. She posed willingly for the wedding photographer (I suspect that after the bride, groom, and wedding party, she was the most photographed person at the wedding, since there were no other young children). She sat at our table and ate heartily of bananas while the rest of the company dined on salmon and risotto. She enjoyed the dance music without getting overwhelmed. And when it was time to fall asleep, she snuggled up on the shoulder of Dr. Steve, my old friend turned pediatrician, while Tom and I danced the final number.

To be fair, I do have to record that she found the full mass a bit long. By the time the bride and groom were kneeling to receive communion, she thought she had better put in her two cents. Maybe she was offering a blessing. But Tom took her out. He ducked into what he thought was a cry room at the back of the sanctuary and afterwards commented, "I'm sure glad that room was soundproof." Er, it wasn't. People were nice about it, but we were rather sheepish.

The only other complaint was at our table at the reception, where someone took it into their head to calculate the total number of years of education and total resulting student loan indebtedness of the table. It was observed that Edith wasn't holding up her end. But she's starting daycare next week, so she should be rapidly catching up.

Pictures to follow once they're developed. Oh, and Dr. Steve's professional opinion was that Edith's current mode of locomotion is officially Crawling.

Cavorting with Steve

A peaceful end to the night