We're Married! Part II (Reflections from the Groom)

Posted Wednesday, May 06, 2009 7:47 PM

Get Me to the Church on Time

I spent my morning trying to shake off the feeling that I forgot something important. I only had a few scant hours of sleep and I was trying to print a photo that Honey wanted at the reception hall. It was not going well, as my printer decided that everything would look better in green - and I was trying to persuade it to print other colors in the spectrum.

I had passed off part of the printing job to future bro-in-law, and had no idea if he got the job done. That was when the future mom-in-law called and inquired if I had made travel arrangements to the church.

Whoops!

It wouldn't do to have the groom tardy. A quick phone call and directions to the best man and my wedding posse and - yes! - they can swing by and grab me. Pace the floor. Coffee. Shower.

Almost There

Sweetie started texting me all sorts of excited missives.  She was getting ready herself and wanted a little private communique' telling me 'happy wedding day' and other cute notes.

More coffee was in my immediate future.

Surprisingly, I didn't rip my tux, cut myself shaving or any other image ruining mishap, and I made it outside to a beautiful day, in full garb impressing two young ladies who were returning from a jog who wished me well. Funny how a wedding will melt any woman. My NYC wedding posse arrived and I bounced between trying to direct the best man to the church and my parents who were lost, and seemingly determined to drive to Pittsburgh instead of the church.

I managed to pass off my folks to someone with a better knowledge of the area, find my groomsdudes, get the familial cuff links I was to wear and got a little package from my bride to be. In it was a mini Leatherman, a tool that I cherish and a note telling me to look at the inside of my 'engagement' ring - a joke that fiancee & I had bought that I wore as the guy equivalent of a promise of betrothal.

She had secretly inscribed it with a quote from Pascal, one I had used on her to woo her, to intrigue her and ultimately help win her heart. I was pondering this as we got the cue that it was game time. My groomsdudes filed out and I felt the stares of a hundred pairs of eyes, all  on me - waiting to see if I would cry, run or maybe just to see if I didn't trim the nostril hairs properly.

Would Everyone PLEASE Get Out of the Way??

I was relieved at that moment by the opening of the huge doors at the rear of the church - and 100 guests piled into the center aisle to get a look at the bride totally blocking my view. People! I thought to myself, Get Out Of The Way. I tried to step up to get a better view - leaning past the photographer and just catching the first glimpse of my wife to be...

Words cannot describe it - that moment. I had always thought my wife to be the loveliest of creatures, but in that moment, I fell in love all over again.  She cast a radiant glow in that dress and it framed her figure better than Praxiteles could ever have. She was a vision.

The rest of that day (and night) passed by in a blur - but all I remember was being lost in her eyes - and being content with spending the rest of my life there...

- Groom