It is Haiku Monday again. This week’s theme is class.
Shiny nails. Hair curled.
Stylish dress. Heels and pearls. But,
Class is made inside.
Blow horn. Shake fist. Curse.
Make way! Move! Lousy drivers.
Backseat children learn.
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 (NIV)
My boss was kind enough to give me today off. I was starting to get twitchy about last minute wedding details. Youngest son’s fiancée, M., and I really needed to sit down and talk some details through and she was home this morning after attending a lovely bridal shower yesterday afternoon. So, we started off the day at the reception site and worked through the table layout. We did not count on so many people on our “invite, but won’t come list” showing up from as far away as Pennsylvania and Virginia so the reception room will be full by the time we get all the tables and chairs set up. The woman who works there suggested we put the dance floor (yes, Baptists do dance) on the patio surrounded by the gardens. There is a waterfall and big trees with lights in them. We will hang paper lanterns from the trees, too. It will be so romantic and lovely (pray for no rain!!!) We checked to see if we had enough white tablecloths for the base and debated what to do about only having half of the needed table toppers. In the end, we agreed to supplement the purple ones she inherited from a friend’s wedding with silver ones that I will make. It is just big squares that need to be hemmed, and cheaper than buying them. Especially, when you get the fabric half price which I was able to do. The colors are purple and silver and the mirrors with the glass vases full of floating purple orchids and candles will look lovely as centerpieces. Once we were assured of where everything would go, we made a list of what we still needed, fabric for table covers, a few more vases, plastic plates, cups and silverware for the meal, candles, more silk orchids for the cake and the arch that will be used at the beach. So, we split up, she to meet with the DJ and me, to start rummaging through discount and party stores and the silk flower warehouse. That meant a lot of driving. From my house to south Sarasota and then, to east county, is not far on the map, but this time of year, it is well over an hour drive. I coordinated my stops to keep from going in circles, but I still had a lot of time behind the wheel. And a lot of time to think. I remembered how when youngest son was little, I was an aggressive driver until a little voice behind me started repeating my words. Now, that little boy is all grown up and getting married and I have become a much better driver. Then, I recalled the words of a long time friend who laughingly pointed at me last week and said, “that one will not be the mother of the groom who sits in the back with her mouth shut and wears beige.” Ouch. Try as I might to be reserved and careful, I am used to making decisions, saying what I think and getting things done. I am trying as hard as I can not to step on M. or her mother’s toes, but it is hard. Today, the woman at the reception site thought I was a wedding planner because I was so organized and efficient. I was grateful she did not use the word, bossy. Most times, I am like a bull in a china closet with people’s feelings. I hope with age, not only will my driving get better, but my self control as well.
We are quite similar in that "bull in a china shop" way of getting things done. I try to consider other people's feelings all the time, but sometimes it gets in the way!
It sounds like your son is going to have a lovely wedding. Is it a holiday-time wedding or after the first of the year? I will pray that rain does not come for the wedding and reception (though we could use it any other time!!!).