Best Friends

One of my best friends, Cathy, got married on Saturday and she looked beautiful with her makeup and hair done especially for the day. Her dress was gorgeous and it fit her like it was made just for her. She joked that her makeup looked like something from Dancing with the Stars. We all laughed. It was a light, fun day.

The closer it got to Saturday the more I felt like I needed to somehow magically be 2 different people that day and for 2 very different reasons.

One, I needed to do and be everything Cathy needed so she didn’t have to think about anything. The matron of honor’s job after all is to help the bride get ready to go down the aisle by helping her get into her gown (and yes, help with taking the pants off too, ha ha) and remind her to wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue, to make her feel good about her makeup although not only did she say it was Dancing with the Stars, but she also mentioned looking like an ice skater (it really was beautiful), to help keep the mood light, to help pack up after the reception, to see the new couple off, and to remember all the little things that the bride might have forgotten and shouldn’t have to worry about.

Two, to be everything Jill needed to get through the wedding – although everything in this category was brand new territory. Jill never asked for anything and never really seemed like she needed anything. She’s an oak (as Larry would say). Since Thayer died, little things in all of our worlds have changed. The line “til death do us part” in the wedding ceremony never before meant so much to me and I previously don’t think I took it seriously enough. Seeing one best friend have the happiest day of her life while standing next to my other best friend reliving what should have been the start of her long life with Thayer. Til death do us part should mean until we die of old age, like when we are 90+, not 31. There are constant reminders of the “little things” that meant so much between Jill and Thayer. Jill and I joked about being “snake chapped” but this is how I felt while smiling at the happy couple and then looking over to make sure Jill was holding it together, but her strength and faith is unshakeable and unyielding.

Watching Cathy and Cory’s ceremony was sweet and I was proud to be a part of it and Jill would say the same. Cathy, Jill, and I are the kind of best friends where you don’t have to say everything on your heart for the other to know it. So Jill, even though I don’t have to say, I want you to know it, I love you and I am really proud of you, and Cathy, I love you, and I am really proud of you too. I wish you and Cory many happy years together and I hope that you both cherish every single moment you have together.