On this day, February 23rd, 1974 at 2:30pm, we would like to announce the coming together of Mr. Brian Eyers and Miss. Catharine Counsel into marriage.
30 years.
Thirty.
Thirty years ago today my parents tied the knot, and I couldn't be happier for them. They've gone through really tough times. Through money troubles where my father was earning less than 18,000/yr to him being moved all over the country for business for weeks at a time, they've stood next to eachother and never faced the world with anything but a fighting attitude, and a friendly smile.
This last Saturday my brother, sister, and myself held a party at the house for my parents. We invited all who we thought were important to the two of them and had a turn out of about 35 people. Our original list had well over 80, but we just couldn't fit that into the house. All that aside, it was a fantastic night of laughter, tears, and warm-heartedness.
The afternoon started off with my parents coming through the door from my mom's store. They were immediately told to go put some nice clothes on while we poured them a glass of wine. They were puzzled, but there was wine involved, so they weren't reluctant. As the people started pouring in, the smiles on their faces grew to great sizes, much larger than the last.
We had amazing food. My brother and sister did a marvelous job at cooking. I couldn't really help with that, seeing as how I am away at school and all.. Anyway, we got through dinner and that's when it got really good. The three of us (my brother, sister, and myself) thought it would be a neat idea to re-marry them.... only with realistic vows. We had my brother stand on the bottom step into the family room with my mom and dad in front of him and the cerimony began.
Marriage is about love, giving, and warmth - as in Dad loves it when mom gives him permission to increase the warmth in the house.
Marriage is also about hope and commitment - as in Mom hopes that she doesn't have to get my Dad committed.
You can see the direction this cerimony is going in...
Anyway, that's when we got to the vows. Everything from my father promising to finish a household rennovation job some of the time, and promise to get his haircut at least once without my mom asking him to first, to my mom promising to increase the heat in the house, decrease the heat in the pool, among a few others which I cannot remember at this point in time. It was priceless, suffice to say...
My brother concluded the cerimony with "I now pronounce you Ball, and Chain... You may kiss the bride."
Now all of you out there are probably going to kill me for writing this, but here goes..
That's when it was time for their first dance, which is where my Song of Choice comes into play for this entry. I cranked up the stereo and they had a nice dance, just the two of them, to Alan Jackson's Remember When. Please, I beg you, download this song and listen to it and picture your parents dancing to it. It makes my mom cry everytime she listens to it. It was perfect.
So very perfect. I was looking around the room at everyone. My parents (who I learned many years ago are surprisingly good dancers) swaying to the rhythm of the guitar as my sister's boyfriend had his arms around her up in one part of the kitchen dancing... My Aunt and Uncle doing the same... It was one of those moments that you could just feel the level of commitment in the room that everyone had for one another.. Watching my parents and everyone else, and listening to that song, made me seriously want to cry. My parents are pretty much (no comments please) the only two people in this world who can make me cry so easily. Knowing the history between the two of them, I know of nobody else who shares a greater love.
There was a giant piece of black card being passed around with various wedding pictures glued to it where people signed and left a little message... Doreen, my God Mother who lost her husband mid-January, left a message which I believe sums everything up better than I ever could: Love every day... That's what it comes down to. Knowing and understanding that you only have a limited number of days to show someone how much they mean to you.... use it.... because you never know when you're not going to have the chance. I've always tried to take the opportunity to tell people exactly how much they mean to me... I've always tried to take the opportunity to tell someone how much I love them... I dont want to learn what it feels like not to do that.. not the hard way. Tell those you love that you love them. Now, dont wait..
Congratulations, Mom and Dad, for making it to 30. I can only hope to be here to see you celebrate 50. =)
Until next time.......
*fade to black*
:: Eldorado ::
Monday, February 23, 2004 ::
2:09:00 AM
