August 28, 2008
Blue and white
This past weekend we threw a bridal shower for my sister Jean who is getting married in September. It's all very happy and intense. I love my family so much, and I love Pat's family (the groom) ... and Jean's friends - many of whom I have known since they were toddlers rolling around with Jean on a blanket in the backyard covered in popsicle juice - are phenomenal women. Siobhan and I got up at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday and drove up to Rhode Island to meet up at Leslie's house where the shower would take place. It was a blazing blue and white day. You can feel the ocean in the air. Leslie lives walking distance from the Atlantic. As I wrapped streamers around the fence, smeared in SPF 70, I could feel the caravan of cars converging from all over New England - aunts and cousins and friends - coming to celebrate our dear Jean's wedding. This is not an unambiguously happy time. There are things in our lives that put a shadow over the event. A big family thing. Which does not temper our joy, but seems to bring it out into even starker relief. It's so intense that I am considering Xanax as a coping mechanism. Jean is a beautiful woman, and Pat is a beautiful man ... a member of our family from almost day one ... so to be on the brink of "making it official" is glorious indeed.
It was a good day.
Oh, and Jean and Pat got great gifts. There are many funny stories from the shower. Sarah, hugely pregnant, sitting with her feet in the pool, watching Jean open identical glasses from a box - Jean was blabbing on, caught up in the moment ... opening each glass, even though they all were the same - and suddenly out came a booming voice from the side of the pool: "STOP OPENING GLASSES!" commanded Sarah. We are all still laughing about that. Let's keep the event moving, keep it snappy ... STOP OPENING GLASSES.
Us four bridesmaids worked our ass off to make this thing happen, and happen right ... so once people started showing up, the event stopped being a phantom in my mind, something I worried about ... and started becoming something to revel in, to enjoy.
Especially the acute happiness of seeing my sister so happy.
Xanax, please.
You are such a good sister!!! PS I recognize some Hodges in that last pic!!
Posted by: just1beth at August 28, 2008 9:36 PMHahahaha - "STOP OPENING GLASSES!"
Looks like Jean - and the rest of you! - had a fabulous day.
I'm so, so glad!
Posted by: Jayne at August 29, 2008 5:48 AMThat is just great!
Posted by: Betsy at August 29, 2008 7:43 AMI must chomp on that baby's arms!!! Nomnomnomnom.
Posted by: Lisa at August 29, 2008 9:14 AMHa!!! Isn't she just a fat little munchkin??
Posted by: red at August 29, 2008 9:16 AMJean told me that she had a blast. I think everyone did. You guys did a great job.
Posted by: PatrickW at August 29, 2008 12:38 PMBeth - yes! Jennifer and Barbara - it was so nice to see them!
Posted by: red at August 29, 2008 1:45 PMJayne - hahahahaha I'm glad the funniness of the moment came across in print ... It was just HYSTERICAL. jean, socializing, as everyone watches her open 8 identical glasses separately.
STOP OPENING GLASSES shouts the pregnant friend by the pool.
Oh God, I'm still laughing about it.
Posted by: red at August 29, 2008 1:47 PMwhat is really funny about that is that if jean were at someone else's shower she would be the one yelling 'STOP OPENING GLASSES!'.
hilarious.
CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WEDDING!!!
Posted by: brendan at August 29, 2008 3:39 PMSheil - what a beautiful post! Thank you so much. Of course your words and pictures captured our perfect day. I agree with Bren - it was and will be very strange for me to sit back and let someone else do the yelling!
Posted by: jean at August 29, 2008 8:12 PMI'll help with the yelling. ;-)
Posted by: Kerry at August 29, 2008 11:22 PMIt all looks so lovely -- like the perfect day. Congratulations to Jean and Pat!
Posted by: tracey at August 30, 2008 12:27 AM