And so it goes, my wish is for her, to forever be treated like a princess and may her tiara always hold firm. My good friend’s beautiful daughter is getting married. Today was her bridal shower. That for me was the quote that stuck. “I can’t bend over, my tiara will fall off.” I just love it, on so many different levels.
The second memorable quote was by a guest who commented “I’ve been married twice, I know how to do this.” It was only the second shower I have ever attended in my life I think, and it was spectacular. My friend did an amazing job.
My friend, who saves helpless and sick children’s lives by day and plans her only daughters wedding by night, weekend and between breaths, after months of living in fight or flight mode, is beyond the meltdown stage. I would say she is at that stage, I don’t know the exact scientific name of it, but it would be where you are so fried you just turn back into pure energy. Poof!
Being in a room full of gorgeous 20 somethings wearing short shorts and mini dresses, cellulite free, varicose vein free will bring the stark contrast of where we are on our personal journey, front and center. At some point I jumped the fence to the other side. The side where the life in front of me is very different from when I was 20 something. Did it turn out to be all that I thought it would in my 20′s? Hell no, way better than I ever would have thought of on my own.
I had the privilege of hanging out with my Rent-A-Mom who is 87 and the most adorable person I know. If I were to build a mom from scratch, it would turn out like her. She is getting ready, psychologically for right now, to move out of her home of about 45 years, to a place where she will be safer. Someone to remind her to take her meds and be there if she falls. We talked about how difficult it is to give up your independence, the driving and now living on her own. All these transitions of life flow naturally, when it is time to jump the fence and give up something that we can’t have anymore because it no longer works, actually seems to no longer exist, then we have to jump and be grateful we still have a fence in front of us. Each stage of life is a gift that not everyone gets to experience and for whatever reason our society seems to only focus on the first couple of stages like we are all supposed to stay there forever. It’s all so rich whatever the challenges. She will make new friends and from what I know about those places they party like it’s 1994 all the time.
Anyway, here are a few pics from today that sent me on this little mental whatever.
Oh my God…..there are no words. I don’t even know what to say. You are so wonderful to honor my life’s best gift this way……as well as to honor one of my other of life’s great gifts…..sweet Noretta…..this way. Your words describing my life right now…..I am glad to hear I can fake it so well. Without your support and wildly inappropriate sense of humor, I wouldn’t be able to laugh through the rough moments and the ride would not be nearly as much fun! My life is going through so many changes right now and you put it into words beautifully……thank you my sweet TSC!!!! Xoxoxoxoxo
Thank you my TS, for all you have done for me and for always being there, my life is so much better for having you in it, you will not poof KFTSL! xoxoxoxo
Sent from my iPad
Great post. “They party like it’s 1994 all the time?” Where would that be?
Leisure World just for starters. I had a catering company for sale in my old business. These are ambulatory facilities where people are still healthy, just need to have someone around just in case. They have a fair amount of disposable income and come up with things to throw parties over weekly. They take field trips to symphonies, the mountains, plays etc. Not all places where older people go to live these days are depressing Hell holes. Thanks Mike!
Christina, this is a heartfelt, beautifully written, spot on post. Tiaras are quite unsteady, but I l just love the several layers of meaning in your title;) Lovely photos, (the bride to be is gorgeous).
thank you elena, yes, the whole tiara thing carries so much with it doesn’t it? she is a friend to the camera isn’t she? She even looks good texting which is what she is doing in the last shot.
Your friend’s daughter is very beautiful and reminded me of my own eldest daughter – they have exactly the same pair of shoes!!!
I hope your Rent-a-mom will be happy when she moves. The move will be a little traumatic I think but with you around by her side It will make it easier for her.
I wish both these women, all the best, as they go through the different stages of their lives…
thank you, that is so sweet of you to say. I am not surprised you have a gorgeous daughter with great shoes!
Wonderful photographs, Blessing and Happiness to this beautiful girl. Thank you dear Christina, I loved the spirit of these shots… you are amazing. Love, nia
Thank you nia! xoxo
Oh geez, was I ever that young? You are a good friend to embrace all the positives about the excitement of getting married. It’s funny, I tend to gravitate to the rent-a Mom’s at parties. Meeting and getting to know friend’s elderly parents is a passion of mine, and for some reason, my appreciation seems to unanimously touch a sore spot with most of my friends. Maybe my hope is that someone will take me under their wing when I’m the kindly elderly person sitting alone on the comfortable chair in a room full of strangers. I love your photographs, by the way….and the cake is divine!
thank you elisa, you notice all the right things. I think I am an 87 year old woman at heart. However my friends are happy I rented their mom. I rented the whole family because mine sucks. They are all such good people. You can do that when you are a lunatic. I would like to think someone’s marriage will be happy, just because I made hideous choices for the best part of my life does not mean others will. She is marrying a very sweet and sensitive guy with great arms. thank you, have a lovely weekend!
Love it….every thing about it. ♥
Thank you so much!
Great pictures, Christina. I am sure you are not surprised when I say the last one is my favourite. And yes, those transitions in life open up new doors. We step into new chapters of our lives, not knowing what lies ahead of us, but all the same with excitement and hope.
Thank you Otto, she is texting in the last one, an easy catch since she was still.
Awwwww…what an awesome gift to your friend and her daughter…..your friendship and now this wonderful tribute…..they are very lucky to have you in their lives
(me too)….even though I STILL am not getting sent your posts…stupid WP..
I don’t know what is going on, I am not getting yours either! I have not been posting much, been working on my fish sculptures. But look suzanne, they can’t keep us apart, we found each other again anyway! Ha, on you WP! Thank you for your kind words, I feel lucky to have them, (and of course you suzanne