Another woman might look out at the weather today with apprehension. She might notice the gloomy grey sky, the treetops leaning from what is certainly stronger than a gentle breeze, the puddles and wet picnic tables from last hour's sudden downpour. She might console herself with the idea that, "if it's cold and rainy this year on June 9th, then NEXT year it is guaranteed to be sunny and gorgeous!"
But perhaps she does not have a memory of her five-year-old self, telling someone that she hoped it would rain on her birthday, because rainy days are so nice. And perhaps the grey softness doesn't conjure up the romantic atmosphere and philosophical attitude for her as it does for me.
I will admit that I'm not truly hoping for a rainy wedding day. Not because rain would be bad luck; rather for the practical reason that it will not be as much fun to play putt-putt in the rain. (Then again, it could be a blast.) If it does rain, I hope there will be a rainbow.
So, one year from today, Joe and I will be getting married. One year from right now in fact, seeing as how I'm writing this from the middle of the two o'clock hour. One year from right now, we will be standing (or kneeling) in the middle of Mass at SS. Peter and Paul's while Father Sean officially recognizes us as husband and wife. That sounds pretty cool to me.
I can't decide whether I think a year is an awfully long time, or an awfully short time. Right now it seems just right. I never thought I'd want to be engaged longer than a year, especially not close to a year and a half, as we will have been by the time all is said and done. But to be honest, I'm enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. The pressure is off. We can arrange everything on our own time. Here we are at the one-year mark, and the date is set, the church is reserved, the reception is booked. We're signed up for Pre-Cana classes in August. We know where we want to go for our honeymoon, and who will do our flowers, although we have to wait about 6 months before we can actually begin to finalize those plans. Tomorrow we are going to a bakery to see about cakes and prices.
I even bought my dress! I bought it on ebay, a store sample of a dress from last season, for a ridiculously low price. It arrived last Friday and fits beautifully (except that it will need to be taken in a bit on top, as it was designed for a woman with a chest, which I am lacking). I may have shut myself into my room last evening while I was home alone, and tried it on a second time, and tried to picture how my hair might be and what my veil will look like, and how pretty I will feel to wear it for Joe.
Most of all, so far it's been a lot of fun making plans together -- and not just wedding plans, either. Financial plans, housing plans, marriage plans. I guess the key to the whole wedding part of it is just relax. Decide what's important and stick with that. Hopefully we can continue to do that. So far we've been doing a great job.
The sun is out now and little patches of blue sky are starting to peek out through the clouds. I think if the weather is like this a year from now, it would be perfect. Not too hot, breezy, bright but not blinding; also not cold, or rainy, or dull slate grey. Just cheerful. Right now, it sounds good to me. A year from now though, I doubt I will care! :-) As long as Joe's there, and I'm there, and we end up married by the end of it... that's all I really want.