Overdue and quite lovely thank you!

We gott 'er done! First photo, youngest daughter-my best girl, self, new hubby and daughter's friend who stood in so graciously as best man when ours (groom's brother) mysteriously didn't show.It was her first gig as best man!

In the second photo my nearly-husband is laughing as I ask the preacher to repeat the will you question. I totally whited out and couldn't remember a thing he said!

Well blogging means you never have to say you are sorry since you are keeping the blog fresh and timely, in its nature. Wrong. Not sorry, but feel remiss and miss writing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's 6:30 a.m. and I just woke daughter and friend for school although they told me multiple times, no school until noon today mom because of WASL...well, that was last night!
The wedding deed was a sweet one.
It was an adventure I always promised myself to try one day; the kind where I put my hands down, zip my lips and just go with the moment that I had no hand in planning.
James and I married Sat. in a simple, sweet ceremony done by a stranger whom we gave no instruction other than Getter done!
I had no perfect dress (the one and sole dress I loved in the dress market near home was not quite a good fit and no time for alterations). I wore what I wore to work; I got a pretty for the hair, found my heels I never wore and polished them; tried to get a good night's sleep and hope for the best.
In the morning to pass time since we were scheduled for high noon, I got to watch The Reader, the Kate Winslet Oscar movie. Very powerful. I am sure my younger self as a bride couldnot sit down with a cup of joe and watch a full length movie. I was a nervous wreck waiting but this movie was the perfect foil for nerves. I thought while watching the movie, how middle age love and romance bear zero resemblance to young love or first love.
In this case, we had rings sitting in the drawer for years; and tho we both have gained a few pounds the beautiful white gold bands fit nicely; check.
Clothes, check; hair check. James' brother didn't show for mysterious reasons to be best man, so we asked our daughter's friend of a lifetime and lo, James had an 18 year beautiful girl for his best man; my youngest was my best girl--and both girls were sensational in their role. The flower order was incomplete so we had to wait for the planner to run down the street for a quick bridesmaid bouquet.
I was sheer nerves for unknown and still unknown reasons. We laughed alot during the ceremony I know; I couldn't remember what the preacher was asking me, was it a yes question or an I will or should I nod my head; I asked him to repeat the question.
In 10 minutes we had a bride and groom.
We followed the little ceremony with fantastic visit with friends and girls at a 50s diner; the groom and girls had their photos taken with Elvis; the food was amazing and my side hurt from laughing and my mouth hurt from smiling.
In all of this I found something inside me that made marrying my comrade, co-alpha dog-sparring partner, best friend even better: I found I could live without control or trappings.
There was actually about three of the 100 elements at play during the wedding I liked and yet I purely loved it all. The spontaniety of the event did not tarnish or diminish the moment in the least; our families largely had other plans and told us to stop by later. No problem. Not fancy clothes or fancier trappings or more orchestration or more of anything would have made our moment any sweeter, lovelier or better in any way. Becoming a married couple has nothing to do with any of those things. It's the who and the why. I just got on the wedding merry go round and had one of the best adventures of my life--because everything was in alignment, the outer trappings meant nothing--hallelujah! A big stick I never thought I could jump over...
We had two sets of friends who chose to make the drive and spend our moment in time with us; our kids who could, did too. We will have a reception soon and invite those who can to come have more celebration.
My groom and I both still feel a bit bothered by having a piece of metal on our hands. We both think I want to take this off (since neither of us wear rings on a regular basis) and then go, oh yah...this is my wedding ring. It's funny and sweet.
He planned it, I attended willingly and then when I got up this morning, he set our official wedding photo to the screensaver on his computer (this one). There's nothing more to say, except lucky us and happy us and may we always feel just like this!