Joy Wins
This weekend was awesome. Like, truly amazingly, wonderfully awesome.
The planning had all been done, the details figured out, weather app checked numerous times, and people arrived.
My baby sister got married to the perfect man for her. We all got dressed up and gathered around them to celebrate. We celebrated them for hours, with lots of laughs, silly dancing, candy, cupcakes, oh so much food, and a healthy share of beer and wine. It was beautiful, all of it.
There is no secret surrounding the fact that someone was missing from the weekend. There was a big, gaping hole where he belongs. We all felt the absence, and it made us sad. He would have loved nothing more than to be there, watching his baby girl commit to a man who makes her so happy. He would have loved walking her down the aisle, hugging her, kissing her cheek, and handing her over to Brian. He would have loved the food and chatter, even if after a while the craziness might have led him to seek refuge in a quiet area of the house. He would not have missed it for the world.
He was unabashedly proud of his family. He was proud to be our father, and see us doing well. He helped us be proud of ourselves. He forced us to love each other and support each other by example.
And we do...love and support each other through everything. We have an unbreakable bond and because of that, we all took part in this. Jimmy walked her down the aisle and Bradley performed the ceremony. I want to say he was most proud of that bond in us.
There were definitely times when our eyes were wet during the day. There were moments of tearing up when I couldn't look at my mom in the eyes, for fear of losing it myself. There were some moments of hard hugs and knowing when I looked at my brothers that we were in the same boat and moments of missing him so much and wishing he was there that I had to choke back a tear and breathe. He was there, though, with us. We had his picture on display, watching over us. Mom gave Alicia a set of Dad's wings which she carried attached to her bouquet. So while his hugs were missed thoroughly, he was there. He always is.
Through those moments of sadness, the overwhelming joy of the day won out. There was no sobbing, no sorrow. Seeing my sister's face was enough.The day was perfect for Alicia and Brian (and for the rest of us, although we don't matter, really). I am so glad to have been a part of it, and I could almost hear him when the clouds started to clear, "I am so proud of you, Pretty Girl."
The planning had all been done, the details figured out, weather app checked numerous times, and people arrived.
My baby sister got married to the perfect man for her. We all got dressed up and gathered around them to celebrate. We celebrated them for hours, with lots of laughs, silly dancing, candy, cupcakes, oh so much food, and a healthy share of beer and wine. It was beautiful, all of it.
There is no secret surrounding the fact that someone was missing from the weekend. There was a big, gaping hole where he belongs. We all felt the absence, and it made us sad. He would have loved nothing more than to be there, watching his baby girl commit to a man who makes her so happy. He would have loved walking her down the aisle, hugging her, kissing her cheek, and handing her over to Brian. He would have loved the food and chatter, even if after a while the craziness might have led him to seek refuge in a quiet area of the house. He would not have missed it for the world.
He was unabashedly proud of his family. He was proud to be our father, and see us doing well. He helped us be proud of ourselves. He forced us to love each other and support each other by example.
And we do...love and support each other through everything. We have an unbreakable bond and because of that, we all took part in this. Jimmy walked her down the aisle and Bradley performed the ceremony. I want to say he was most proud of that bond in us.
Through those moments of sadness, the overwhelming joy of the day won out. There was no sobbing, no sorrow. Seeing my sister's face was enough.The day was perfect for Alicia and Brian (and for the rest of us, although we don't matter, really). I am so glad to have been a part of it, and I could almost hear him when the clouds started to clear, "I am so proud of you, Pretty Girl."
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