To be blissful means to be in seventh heaven - to be on cloud nine - to be walking on air! Weddings are often associated with bliss and rightfully so! To witness two people in love unite as husband and wife is truly a blissful moment. The moments prior to the bliss, however, can be a bit stressful as the final details are polished and the preparations are completed. There are always a few glitches here and there and it always amazes me that once the ceremony begins "all is well".
There are those who, when faced with a situation that may be emotional or stressful or new, are calm, cool and collected. You would never know that inside they may be nervous and emotional because, on the outside they are able to handle the moment with grace and ease. I personally know of individuals who have been blessed with this gift, but unfortunately I myself am not one of those. I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve for the world to see. If I’m happy – you can tell. If I’m angry – you know that as well. If I’m sad I cry and if I’m frightened I look and act accordingly. When an important family event takes place (weddings, missions, births of babies, etc.) and we are “in the moment”, I usually react by simply losing all touch with reality. I don’t know why this happens, and I don’t like it, but I have realized over the years that I must live with it. My family knows that although I APPEAR to be in control, my mind is blank and I can’t be trusted to do much of anything. So, they lovingly take me by the hand and escort me through the event – making sure that I don’t lose anyTHING or anyONE in the process.
Saturday was one such day. My son Jonathan was married to the love of his life – Erin. They are a beautiful couple and we couldn’t be happier for them. The day before the wedding, all the members of the wedding party, family and friends used our “Disney Give a Day Get a Disney Day” free passes for a day at Disneyland. We had so much fun and thank Disney for such a memorable and fun-filled day! All went extremely well and I really thought that maybe I had things under control! When we returned to the hotel, Terry realized that his contact lens case must have fallen out of his pocket on a ride and had no place to put his contacts for the night. I suggested that he fill the two glasses in the bathroom with water and drop one lens in each glass. He thought that was a great idea and placed the glasses on the counter – left lens in the left glass and right lens in the right glass. The next morning I got up first and began getting ready for the wedding. When it was time to take my Vitamins I promptly filled up the right glass with water and drank his right contact lens. I immediately realized what I had done when I looked at the glass on the left and saw the little lens floating in the inch of water. I then examined the glass on the right, hoping against hope that the lens was stuck to the side of the glass, but it wasn’t. It was already in my tummy with my Multiple Vitamins. I felt just terrible, knowing that he really would have preferred to witness Jonathan and Erin’s marriage “clearly” but now he would have to settle for a semi-sharp view of the nuptials. Either way, it did provide some comic relief for everyone. As Terry and I sat across from each other at the wedding, the man marrying Jonathan and Erin commented to them about their parents and our happy marriages. As we looked at each other – Terry closed one eye so that he could see me clearly, and smiled at me. Everyone in our family knew EXACTLY why he was winking at me – and I think this is one story that I will hear recounted for many years to come – the day Mom drank Dad’s contact lens.
I didn’t bring any crocheting or quilting with me on the airplane from Illinois to California. Maybe I should have…because when I’m making a Project Linus blanket, I tend to calm down and relax. It takes me to a different world and I like it there! I know that many of you also seek refuge from the world as you make blankets, and the children we serve do the same as they take advantage of our creations. Well, three of my children are now married with one to go. I’m not sure what that day will bring, but maybe a skein of yarn and a crochet hook needs to be on my list.
Happy Blanketmaking!
Mary
Mary
