I like to think I am put together, the one who holds back tears, speaks my mind and then thinks about the people I most likely pissed off later. I defend family, friends and others when i feel it's necessary. I work to help homeless animals who don't have a voice, i like to make things better. I helped Kristen with anything she asked to make her wedding a special day. On wedding day: I worked to keep everyone on time, breakfast, Make-up, hair, lunch, floral.. check.. get Kristen in her dress, adjust her cleavage, find her shoes, get her flowers.. get her a shot or two! Load her in the mini van with sparkling clean rims.. get her to the wedding site on-time.. take photos, cover the bug bites (thanks Alex), get her a drink, stress about room layouts, watch her walk down the aisle, hold her flowers, hope Dana's hair doesn't catch on fire standing under the candles of the beautiful floral arch lit with candles, give Kristen back her flowers, watch Kristen and her husband drive off in a golf cart to take photos on the golf course, sign the marriage license, get Kristen a drink, take more bridal party photos in the rain, get introduced into the reception, have dinner, visit with friends, check in on Kristen, she is now married, happy and beautiful. Just beaming a radiant glow, if you ask me...
Now the fun part for most.. slide show (I teared up watching memories fill my heart), toasts.. aunt lori, alex and then me. I was a wreck, i was overwhelmed with emotions, my hands were shaking, i asked Jake to hold my champagne flute..i knew what i wanted to say, i wanted to say so much, but no words can express what Kristen means to me or how much she has enhanced my life... i made it through the words (no tears) and made my way back to my seat... Then Jake toasted the wedding attendees, his family, his new family and his new bride-to-be also known as his wife. This is when I lost it, i realized (what i already knew) my cousin was marrying a wonderful man and she was becoming the woman she wanted to be. I know i am not losing her, but gaining a cousin-in-law, but i think Jake and I may need to have a one-on-one chat. Kristen is more than a cousin, more than a friend, she is part of my life, my memories since I can remember remembering. :)! I stepped outside to have myself an UGLY cry, i am not a fan of ugly crying and often make fun of people who do. I will admit i had myself an ugly cry...The emotions of the day all caught up to me, i did not have a job, everyone had eaten, everyone was a having a good time and now it was my time to relax. Without a job, i had time to think (and feel) about everything leading up to my cousin's wedding, all the planning, all the appts, all the lists, all the questions, timelines, decisions and fighting with Kristen to get her nails done. I am honored to have been an active participate in Kristen's wedding, but when the work was done and it was real - I was emotional, i was happy for Kristen, i was in awe of her beauty and of the beautiful woman she has become! I know how to plan an event, but I didn't know how to "feel" one until Saturday night. Congrats to Kristen and her husband Jake!!!
