jchrisobrien (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jchrisobrien) wrote2005-02-07 05:08 pm
jchrisobrien) wrote2005-02-07 05:08 pm
Mawwage
My almost-cold is fraying my patience today, enough that I'm taking a break from the phone and building a computer for someone. I'm also talking about my weekend.
I broke the trip home into two sections: one shot down to my aunts in Rivervale, then traveling in her car (w/ my cousin Paul) the rest of the way to York, my cousin Christine and her husband following us. She is a photographer and he is an electrician (both can be found in IMDB with a few dozen films to their name), and they were doing the pictuers for my sister's wedding as their gift. We spent sometime at St. Patrick's while they took light readings and scoped out the best places for pictures. St. Patrick's is an impressive church, with the kind of beauty and architecture that can really inspire you. We traveled over to the reception hall afterewards to help prepare for the next day. Everyone was running around frantically, but remaining in good spirits. I admit, that I wasn't impressed with my first view of her husband to be, and was saddened that I was cutting up cheap plastic tablecloths to use as decorations. She couldn't even afford real linen? I was sad and a trifle embarassed, and then angry at myself for being so judgemental. It's her wedding, her husband, her that's paying for it, so shut the hell up and cut fabric and move chairs and smile, dammit. And so I did.
The morning was spent getting ready, getting to the church early, and taking a little walk around the block while I waited. I was edgy from being around my family, who I like (or at least don't hate) but rarely spend time with. My sisters all stayed locally in York, I was the only one who left the immediate area. The edginess faded as the church filled with family and friends, close to one hundred people. Pachelbel's Canon in D opened the wedding, and Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring ended it (I was impressed by my sister's choices in music). She also used the lyrically re-worked Ode to Joy, which is one of my favorite classical pieces, so points for that too. The majesty of the Church paled to the happiness I saw in her face, the face of our family, and in the face of her husband, Tim.
I watched Tim during the ceremony, how he acted with kids the night before, and how he acted with my sister and my dad. He was a very warm and caring guy, who's demeanor clashed with his looks. I knew he'd been in some rough places in the past, but my dad thought really highly of him, and my mother told me he was eager to meet me. We talked a bit here and there before the wedding, and a little more afterwards. This man not only agreed to marry my sister, but to accept her four kids as well. He took on an amazing responsibility, and he told me afterwards that my sister "was one of the best things that ever happened to him."
I've never been afraid to admit that I was wrong, especially when new information comes to light. I could chalk my heady feelings of cameraderie and happiness up to the wine I had at the wedding, but they were there the next day too. My sister has, at long last and against all odds, found someone who loves her, and her children, and who is a swell guy to boot. I couldn't be happier for her, and I made sure to tell her so.
Other highlights from the wedding/weekend include:
1.listening to my 90 yr old uncle (a monsenior, above a priest, below a bishop) celebrating part of the Mass, and having him sound exactly like Billy Connelly
2. finding out my sister's child Aaron idolizes me (though we rarely ever met)
3. Being very, very proud of my sisters.
I broke the trip home into two sections: one shot down to my aunts in Rivervale, then traveling in her car (w/ my cousin Paul) the rest of the way to York, my cousin Christine and her husband following us. She is a photographer and he is an electrician (both can be found in IMDB with a few dozen films to their name), and they were doing the pictuers for my sister's wedding as their gift. We spent sometime at St. Patrick's while they took light readings and scoped out the best places for pictures. St. Patrick's is an impressive church, with the kind of beauty and architecture that can really inspire you. We traveled over to the reception hall afterewards to help prepare for the next day. Everyone was running around frantically, but remaining in good spirits. I admit, that I wasn't impressed with my first view of her husband to be, and was saddened that I was cutting up cheap plastic tablecloths to use as decorations. She couldn't even afford real linen? I was sad and a trifle embarassed, and then angry at myself for being so judgemental. It's her wedding, her husband, her that's paying for it, so shut the hell up and cut fabric and move chairs and smile, dammit. And so I did.
The morning was spent getting ready, getting to the church early, and taking a little walk around the block while I waited. I was edgy from being around my family, who I like (or at least don't hate) but rarely spend time with. My sisters all stayed locally in York, I was the only one who left the immediate area. The edginess faded as the church filled with family and friends, close to one hundred people. Pachelbel's Canon in D opened the wedding, and Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring ended it (I was impressed by my sister's choices in music). She also used the lyrically re-worked Ode to Joy, which is one of my favorite classical pieces, so points for that too. The majesty of the Church paled to the happiness I saw in her face, the face of our family, and in the face of her husband, Tim.
I watched Tim during the ceremony, how he acted with kids the night before, and how he acted with my sister and my dad. He was a very warm and caring guy, who's demeanor clashed with his looks. I knew he'd been in some rough places in the past, but my dad thought really highly of him, and my mother told me he was eager to meet me. We talked a bit here and there before the wedding, and a little more afterwards. This man not only agreed to marry my sister, but to accept her four kids as well. He took on an amazing responsibility, and he told me afterwards that my sister "was one of the best things that ever happened to him."
I've never been afraid to admit that I was wrong, especially when new information comes to light. I could chalk my heady feelings of cameraderie and happiness up to the wine I had at the wedding, but they were there the next day too. My sister has, at long last and against all odds, found someone who loves her, and her children, and who is a swell guy to boot. I couldn't be happier for her, and I made sure to tell her so.
Other highlights from the wedding/weekend include:
1.listening to my 90 yr old uncle (a monsenior, above a priest, below a bishop) celebrating part of the Mass, and having him sound exactly like Billy Connelly
2. finding out my sister's child Aaron idolizes me (though we rarely ever met)
3. Being very, very proud of my sisters.