As I haven't engaged in ANY kind of fun in a fairly long time, I would have to say this was fairly well overdue.
I was worried about going alone - and had resorted to begging people to accompany me. One by one, for one reason or another, they each cancelled. I pulled on my reserves of understanding and told myself that my fear of being alone at a wedding was not a good reason to be upset with them. People have lives. Things happen. Build a bridge and get over it.
Glad I did. Because I had never seen a "perfect bride" before. I'd seen the drunken bride, the angry bride, the nervous bride, the bridezilla, the bride who couldn't stop crying, the bored bride, even the blushing bride (and I'm pretty sure I've watched at least half of "The Princess Bride").
But not the perfect bride.
Not until Saturday.
I remember walking into the venue - a country club called "The Ibis" and thinking "oh God. She's going to do it. Oh God." It was beautiful. People were smiling. I was sweating damn bullets.
Because I knew that if there was ANY inclination my kindred was unhappy, or being rushed into something she didn't want, or any fucking negative thing, I was going to object - LOUDLY.
It was sweet the way the ceremony started off fumble-y. I smiled as I watched the groom and his merry men walk to the front. I let it slip a little as the bridesmaids walked by. I kept a close eye on the ring-bearer for any shenanigans...
And then I saw her. And my heart just split wide open. And, to make sure, I checked out the groom's reaction - and he looked like he was witnessing a miracle and someone needed to pinch him.
That sealed it for him. And for me. In my heart of hearts I said "welcome to the family" to him. And then I watched her walk up the aisle.
They say that pregnant women have a glow. I've seen it on rare occasions. Mostly they look irritated, bloated, uncomfortable, and occasionally hungry. Which puts me in "soothe, feed, and tell them they're beautiful" mode. But I have NEVER seen a bride practically float down the aisle, beaming beauty and love and overall wonderfulness. She glowed in perfect bliss. I cursed myself for not having stuck tissues in my bra.
So - the thing that I was most happy for on that day? Lauren. Because even 18 years into a friendship punctuated by years of distance and school and life experiences we didn't get a chance to share together, when I heard her squeal my name and rush over to me, all I could think was "thank you God, happy endings do exist..."
And resolved then and there to get me one of those.
Love you.
-Asha
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