We leave in the morning for New Mexico to attend the wedding of my nephew, my brother’s oldest son. I’ve never been much for the ceremony of a wedding. It always seemed stiff and stilted and I anxiously awaited the reception, where the fun stuff was. This time seems different.
Both my parents died last year, leaving a large void in our family. We spent 2010 in death rituals, burials and cleaning out endless boxes. Many contained wedding pictures, most from parties now deceased. How hopeful and happy they all looked, preparing to face a new life starting from this special day, with this special ceremony. My parents wedding photo now sits on my dresser.
A wedding symbolizes new hope and new life. For us, it is also a new version of our family as this generation passes this important milestone. The wedding will be the first gathering of the clans since we were all together for the funerals. New life. New hope. A new reconfigurationing of our family.
I plan to savor and enjoy the wedding ceremony. Of course, the reception should also be fun!