In eleven short days, I will take my final. I have certainly been cramming. Why I can't tell you how many nights I have gotten up at 2:00 AM to study for this test, usually by lying wide-awake on the couch wide-eyed watching an old Alfred Hitchcock movie while fretting over such important details as what vases the bridesmaids are going to put their flowers in at the wedding or what pillow a three-year-old is going to use to carry a fake ring down the aisle (footnote: he will NOT be carrying the antique Coady heirloom from Mom's house as it disintegrated at the cleaners earlier this week..) I must say I have learned a lot. I ran across my notes from the beginning of this crash course and nearly laughed aloud at my initial cost projections. What was I thinking?
You would think that since I got married myself a few decades back that I would know a few things about weddings. Boy, was I wrong. Here's what I remember...
Mother of the Bride Dress
My mother wore the same dress to my wedding that she already had from Bob and Mary's weddings a couple years earlier: a classy light green polyester long number with big stripes at the waist, green covered buttons, a nice over-sized collar, with lovely white beads and matching hoop earrings to accent it. There were no frantic trips to the big city or online orders and returns involved. Nor did she go on a diet or color her hair. However, she did rat her hair for the occasion. Also, I can say with certainty that she never lost a moment's sleep over the preparations for my wedding.
Bride
Believe it or not, I did my own hair, make up, and nails! A quick look at my wedding photos indicates that my teeth appear to have been sufficiently white.
Flowers
I don't remember even going to the florist. I suspect that we called Helfrich's and said, "We need wedding flowers." I must not have learned flower names as when I recently brought home some "practice" flowers for centerpieces, my friend pointed out that they were carnations, NOT daisies. I still don't believe her, and I plan to Google it first chance I get..
Registry
Irma Jane of the local hardware store - who just happened to be my aunt's BFF and was at least 80 at the time - told me what I needed, put it on a table with my name on it, and people went in and bought things off the table. You know what? She was right. I used my dark brown Pyrex today. For fine items, I walked a half block to Paragraph's and picked out life's essentials like pewter napkin rings and little birds' nest decorations..
I could go on, but I'm afraid the sleeping bride-to-be might wake up and catch me doing something non-wedding related. Why aren't I working on the programs? The photo list? The "day of" agenda??? Why aren't I adding jokes and asides to Bob's wedding toast (I have that done that, thank you very much)? Why am I sitting here in my jammies blogging with only 8 days to go??? Well, dear readers, you know why. Because at heart I am like you. --- a slacker. I much prefer talking about things to actually doing them.
So, wish me luck on my final I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for at least a C+.
The photo attached is Molly in my wedding gown. Doesn't she look beautiful? I might shed a tear or two if I had the time..
Prepping and schlepping,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Liz/Mom/Elizabeth
