The Gown

I said I'd have a "Good-bye December" post for you today.

What was I thinking?!

I got to quirk number five before zoning out for fifteen minutes and then calling it quits. Mondays just aren't suitable for big projects or nasty arguments. That's why I avoid both at all costs until at least Tuesday... Wednesday preferably. So I'll have that post for you on Wednesday, m'kay? Remember, no arguing! Instead, I'm going to share with you something that happened to me this weekend that will probably go down as one of my fondest memories ever.

Saturday morning, Mom and Grandma picked me up for a shopping trip. After hours of driving, on top of an already late start, I was getting anxious to reach our destination. Then the ladies decided it was time for lunch. The whole thing seemed rather odd. Then, just after ordering our food, Grandma disappeared. "She's probably using the bathroom, Mom said. Ten minutes later, Grandma appeared. "I'm just going to run to the restroom," she told me. I stared at Mom in confusion. "But didn't she just-?" Mom shrugged. I put it out of my mind.

After lunch Mom "mistakenly" pulled into a shopping center near the mall. "Oops, wrong turn!" We made loops through the parking lot. "What are we doing?" I finally asked as we pulled into a parking space. "You have a two o'clock appointment," She said, pointing at the bridal shop. "I called at lunch to confirm," Grandma piped in. The two ladies stared at me and grinned. I felt my face flush. It took a minute to get words to come out of my open mouth. "You mean... You tricked me? I had no idea!" Apparently, I get my sneakiness naturally.

Knowing I wouldn't make an appointment myself, I LOATHE trying on clothes (especially in front of an audience), Mom and Grandma had decided to take matters into their own hands. They also knew I couldn't afford a dress, which had done nothing but add to my wedding planning anxiety. They told me they would buy my wedding dress for my birthday. Which is really ridiculous if you consider how much a gown costs. But they knew I couldn't and wouldn't argue. So I took it as the sweet gift it was.

In we went. I was shaking at the sight of all that white. "I'm so nervous!" I whispered to them as our attendant whisked me away to a dressing room. At first I was confused by all the layers, zippers, and ties. It took me forever to figure out where my head went in and where my arms went out. I shuffled out of the room, holding my jiggly bits in, and said to the attendant "Help!" After she was done shifting things about, Mom and Grandma looked on with misty eyes. "You look BEAUTIFUL!" They said.

Oddly, despite the initial nervousness and confusion, I FELT beautiful. There was something about trying those dresses on that made this wedding seem real. Like it wasn't just a date and list of To-Do's. I tried on five dresses in all before we found "The One". In fact, it was the LAST one. "It's discontinued and on sale," the attendant told us. "Discontinued?" Mom said. "On Sale?" My eyes lit up. "Let's not be too hasty," Grandma said. So I tried on a couple more dressed as my ladies guarded the chosen gown.

Evidently, as I found out later, another Mom further down had also wanted my dress. "I want that as soon as she's out of it!" She'd hissed. "Do NOT let that woman get our dress!" Mom had hissed back. After all was said and done, the discontinued dress had won over all the rest. So now I have my wedding gown! But the best part of all was having the women in my family there. It meant the world to me. I hadn't expected such an outpouring of love and support. No matter what else happens with this wedding, that will forever be one of my favorite memories.