Howdy folks. Glad to be back today. I took a few days off while my Ohio daughter and her soon-to-be MIL were in town. The event of her visit was a bridal shower honoring her upcoming wedding in May, but this was also her last trip to Arkansas before the big day. There are lots of moving parts to this wedding, so we were on the go all day each day Thursday-Saturday.
She truly embodies the Barbra Streisand song: "...people who need people are the luckiest people in the world". She draws friends like a magnet, and cares for her close connections with great attention and generosity. She is energized by gatherings of her friends, anywhere, any time. At her shower on Saturday, I looked around the room and counted friends from kindergarten all the way through high school, as well as those from her more recent college years. I've had to share her with "other mothers" who came into her life through her friends. They showed up to hug her and share in her special season. And her lovely future mother-in-law tells me at every opportunity how thrilled they are to have her join the Mason family. My heart swells when I'm reminded how many people love her. Her biggest excitement, aside from marrying her true love, is this unique opportunity to gather all her close people in one spot to share her most significant celebration. This is a joyful time for all the main characters - the joining of two people, their families, and all the ripples that will occur because of their love.
A most precious piece of the weekend for me was that two of my closest college friends drove from their home towns hours away to join the festivities. We went out to dinner Friday night, just the three of us. We all marveled at the resilience of our friendship. Over the course of 40+ years we have shared marriages, the deaths of parents and friends, the playing out of careers, the arrival of children, and, now, the launching of those children into their own adult lives. What an amazing gift. We are never without words; our comfort level is unparalleled. It is an unspoken pact that we would show up for one another for any of life's challenges.
We went out together, along with our fourth compatriot who couldn't make it this weekend, just before we graduated from college. We sat at IHOP eating ice cream sundaes and predicted our futures. I can't even remember our guesses, but I think back on that time with fondness. Now we play "What would you have done differently if today's opportunities had been available." No one traverses the adult years without regrets. With the advantage of hindsight, we can see paths we might have enjoyed that would have showcased our gifts.
But I can see that life has unfolded with its own grace for each of us. Prayers have been answered, even if not in the way we might have wanted at the time. Deep growth and maturity have happened for each of us. Areas of competence have emerged and been honored. Dark, scary times have strengthened our backbones, our faith, and our mutual friendship. I will love and cherish you ladies all my days.
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