25

Today is December 27th.

Twenty-five years ago today, my parents were married at my mother's home church in the small town of Mercedes, Texas.  My mother was 24 and my father had just turned 30.  They were somewhat young and in love.

They may not be as young anymore, they may need to use glasses to read or have to ask "Can you say that again, please?" occasionally, but they're just as much as in love as they were 25 years ago, maybe more.

This past February, my dad took my mom, my sisters and I to my grandpa's house, just a few steps away from the church they were married in.  It was Valentine's Day, exactly 25 years from the day he proposed.  Like the first time, they were surrounded by their closest family members.  This time, he didn't have a ring but promised to have one by the time their anniversary came around.  Instead, he had a large bouquet of pink roses.

Since then, the big 25 has been a work in progress.  The date was set, the location was booked, flowers arrangements were ordered, linens were chosen, dresses were bought and altered.  Finally, all there was left to do was to wait for the day to arrive.  It's finally here.

It's uncommonly early to see Keren up before 9:00 AM, but special days call for special, early alarm clock rings.  It's only about 2 hours before things start hoppin' round these here parts.  Soon, my aunt will arrive with hot rollers, curling irons, flat irons, bobby pins (can you believe they sell those by the pound now??) and the hairspray will by flying.  I'll get started on my mom and sisters' makeup, full sets of lashes, the works.  My dad has it easy.  All he has to do is get himself dressed.  Sometimes I think women should get paid for having to do their hair and makeup.  It's ridiculously time-consuming.

I have to remember to bring the dinner music- all which I downloaded off Youtube- the music for the surprise my sisters and I have planned for them, tissues, the music for the entrance, the music for their big dance...it's just a never-ending list.  Being the first-born daughter is basically the maid of honor in this case.

All that, of course, will be worth it when I see my parents' faces as their enjoying their night.  Whatever crap is happening they don't need to know.  All they need is to remember their love for each other and how rare an occasion this is nowadays.  It's truly a blessing.

Proposal: The Sequel, February 14, 2010

Keren