The Rehearsal

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 There was a moment when I turned to Kathy and asked, “Why am I here?”

As a parent of the groom my entire participation in the rehearsal was to sit in my assigned seat.

“Sit there and look pretty,” Kathy said.

And we watched as they walked down the aisle - Jake and Sam are in the party so it was fun to see. Then the woman in charge mentioned:

“We will say something about those who are not here, but played a part in your lives.”

And that’s when I felt a twinge of great sadness.

I thought about Kathy’s Mom first - she was so great to our children - she would’ve absolutely loved every second of Matt being married. 

I thought of my parents too. Life, man, is cruel.

“Maybe they will be here,” I said, as we moved away.

And then we were off to the party and dinner.

I got a flask!

I’ve always liked the idea of a flask and I had one for a while there when I was in my 20’s, but I no longer drink.

“Are you going to fill it with water?” Kathy asked.

“No,” I said. “I’m gonna’ get something good.”

Matt and Alicia were in great spirits and there were smiles all around.

I thought a little about love and a lot about marriage. There were people in the room who were married and divorced and remarried and with new spouses.

Who knows which way loves wheel turns:

You can hit it rich

Or crash and burn.

Yet there’s nothing but smiles as love begins.

As it should be, and it’s all about putting in the work…

…plenty of time for that.

Now we are celebrating.

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