I am beyond myself with both the excitement of doing our daughter's marriage, and the fear that I will face plant walking down the aisle.
Laurel made it clear, my job is to stay alive and not get caught up in the details of wedding planning.
She checks on me often to determine I'm still physically capable of even doing the service.
Two weeks before the wedding, it's touch and go for a week when everyone, including me, are convinced I'm dying and happen any time now.
"He has this incredible knack for being able to come back," Sarah says, and, so far anyway, I do.
We quickly enroll in Hospice, get the pain under control and it takes a couple of weeks before everything's working right, just in time for the ceremony.
Laurel and Rob's wedding takes place in a beautiful wooded area, complete with benches carved directly from the trees we stand under.
It's been raining for 2 days but neither Laurel nor Rob seem concerned and, sure enough, the rain stops just as the wedding begins.
Rob, the epitome of a handsome groom, follows me out, then the flower girls and ring beater.
I ask for all to stand as Laurel makes her way to the aisle, gorgeously smiling, radiating loving pride.
Per their request the ceremony is short.
"Dearly Beloved," I smile, "we are gathered today to unite Laurel and Rob in holy marriage.
Family and friends stand or sit by the hand carved pews, standing or sitting as large raindrops fell from the pine trees overhead.
Everyone is smiling.
"Rob," I say, "do you take Laurel to be your lawfully wedded wife?" and I proceed to continue leading them through their vows.
It's all good, until I ask "do you take her in sickness and in health," and as I ask, my voice cracks and salt water fills my eyes.
In front of God and everyone else, trying to collect myself, I feel Laurel's hand on mine.
I look up and her eyes lock mine. Rob's too. Laurel smiles beatifically and, as I'm able to finish the wedding, she places her hand back in Rob's.
It was the holiest of moments.
Afterwards, Sarah and I danced as it's the last chance we're ever going to have, likely soon.
Che grabs me and the two of us dance as people in love who'll never see each other again.
We have a large blended family with 7 kids, all there for Laurel and Rob. Sarah's parents, our sis-in-law Julie, our nephew Colin and his finance Sophie, along with Jeremy, Kristen and Chelsea, round out our table. We spend time enjoying each other as the wedding dissolves into one killer party.
The dancing, drinking, eating and playing take over and it's time for me to go. Sarah's folks drive me, and Jeremy comes along for the company.
Sarah, Maddie, Henry and Cassidy continue to take care of the party when they are not partying, squeezing every bit of joy the party.
Jeremy and I watch the end of the football game, but I'm too exhausted to continue and collapse into bed.
I'm so damn happy I made the wedding. It's some of the happiest moments of my life.
"Well," Laurel asks before I leave, "now that the wedding's over, what's the next thing to focus on so you don't die? Christmas?"
"I can't die at Christmas," I say. "That would scar Che and the holidays would never be the same."
"Till after Christmas then," Laurel smiles, before leaving to dance with Rob.
"To Christmas," I toast.
"And to love," I add, stumbling towards my ride home.
💍💍💍💍
My Celebration of Life delightfully lingers but is coming to an end. Help me make sure Sarah and Che will be fine without me.
Please consider being part of their future at https://gofund.me/ffda4f4b
