Now that they are almost back from the honeymoon. . . here, finally, are some wedding night photos.
{December 30, 2006} Mr. & Mrs. Friedman
{December 27, 2006} Mollie & Eli Friedman
I don’t have any wedding pictures back yet so this will have to do. They’re in Peru on their honeymoon right now, having been married 10 days at this point. I am still not sure how all this makes me feel.
I am supposed to be happy for her, and mostly I am. But along with the relief of having married off my little sister, thereby removing some of the pressure on me to get married and produce grandchildren, came an unexpected sort of emotion, still difficult for me to place. Jealousy? Not exactly. But maybe a little bit of wistful thinking.
Despite the fact that this was her day, I had several guests ask me at the wedding (I’m the older sister after all) when I’m going to get married. What IS that? I kept answering “I don’t know, maybe never”. And although I have always claimed to want nothing to do with marriage I suspect that what I really want is to fall in love with a man capable of convincing me to take that risk. And that what I am really terrified of is that I’ll never find it.
It was definitely a night of great memories. The wedding ceremony was beautiful. Mom made it through most of her reading before the tears started. And I got the train turned around without Mollie tripping over it! Nobody noticed when Sunny and I couldn’t manage to hand it off without getting in each others’ way. All eyes were on the bride, thank God!
The reception was even more fun.
Sam offering me the empty seat next to him “if I wanted”. And then asking me a few minutes later if I was his date. (We decided yes). Uncle Enoch (by marriage!) making bad jokes and worse puns and telling Sam he should stay in the Corps another 10 years. Sam trying valiantly to have an actual conversation with him and explain that he had other goals. Being saved, mercifully, by the introduction of the wedding party of which we were part.
Mollie and Eli feeding the cake to each other – both very sweetly. Their first dance as husband and wife. The rest of the bridal party joining in “with our partners” until Dad intercepted me and Sam and cut in before we even started. Dad pulling me out on the dance floor at the next slow song and gloating “sorry, Marine, the Air Force was quicker again!” Dancing to salsa and booty music with Josh, who if nothing else is one hell of a dancer – enough to get me several compliments on my dancing when I clearly had no idea what I was doing. Dancing to Fergie with Mollie (back to back droppin’ down real low). And FINALLY slow dancing with Sam to all the remaining slow songs.
Mollie dancing with our dad. Eli dancing with his mama. And Big Bob dancing with every female IN the place! Everyone in my family dancing to the Chicken Dance (Sam bailed on me for that one but did get it on film!) The men lifting the married couple in their chairs, high over their heads. Mollie looking simultaneously pleased and petrified.
And finally, saying goodnight to my newly married little sister. Tossing heart-shaped ricelike substance at them. Scott thought it was candy and had eaten most of his. He finally just threw the bag at them. Waving goodbye and blowing kisses and wishing them happy honeymooning in Peru.
And then walking across the street to McGuire’s.
{December 20, 2006} the Top Gun letter
It’s right in the middle of that first paragraph. Between “Congratulations on your acceptance” and the list of interns for the 2007-2008 year.
“You are the best of the best – we’ll make you better”
I keep feeling like it hasn’t quite sunk in yet and receipt of the letter confirmed that. Despite the fact that the offer was made over a week ago while I was still in Kentucky, and despite the fact that I’ve already told everyone I’m in (whether or not they cared. . . ), actually seeing it in print made me all giddy again.
At first I thought hey, anyone who quotes Viper is part of a group I’ll fit right in with. Then I thought crap, the best of the best? I think he might actually MEAN that. What if I’m not and they find me out? Suddenly my confidence that I CAN DO THIS is again replaced by the gnawing fear that I might fall flat on my face.
Luckily this has never stopped me before. I tend to just keep charging right on ahead. And remembering that while I was up there I watched the interns, REALLY watched them, shadowed them, and decided that I ABSOLUTELY CAN do it!
