My sister is in sobby tears. Thunder booms, lightning scratches the sky, the rain comes. It is morning, and I assure her that by afternoon the sunshine will be bright and dry the grass. It is not always a good idea to have a backyard wedding. Diane has waited for this day for a long, long time. She is forty-seven. She looks gorgeous with her hair in a French braid and Baby’s Breath flowers delicately tucked into the braid here and there. “Go get ready. Wash your face and start to get dressed. Then Elaine will do you makeup.” She nods and disappears inside the house.
Sure enough, the rain stops and the sun comes out before the guests start to arrive. A string quartet is playing in the gazebo decorated with ivy and roses. It is time for pictures of the wedding party at Valley Forge Park, just ten minutes from Diane and Willie’s home. We are all laughing and talking and drinking champagne. Time passes quickly.
We pile out of the limousine slowly and start to climb the hill towards the monument. It is not an easy thing to do on this particularly hot and humid September afternoon – especially if you are wearing a gown, nylon stockings, and high-heeled shoes. For a fleeting moment I find myself wishing that I had gone to the Ship Bottom beach more often to tan my legs. Then I could have skipped the stockings.
Suddenly, my brother-in-law-to-be cries out, “A double rainbow! Run!” We all turn around and follow him like a cavalry charge up a small hill in the opposite direction. When we get there, the photographer arranges the bridesmaids, ushers, bride, and groom. The double rainbow arches gracefully in the sky behind us. We try not to pant or sweat or look tired. We smile big smiles as he snaps the perfect picture.
Sure enough, the rain stops and the sun comes out before the guests start to arrive. A string quartet is playing in the gazebo decorated with ivy and roses. It is time for pictures of the wedding party at Valley Forge Park, just ten minutes from Diane and Willie’s home. We are all laughing and talking and drinking champagne. Time passes quickly.
We pile out of the limousine slowly and start to climb the hill towards the monument. It is not an easy thing to do on this particularly hot and humid September afternoon – especially if you are wearing a gown, nylon stockings, and high-heeled shoes. For a fleeting moment I find myself wishing that I had gone to the Ship Bottom beach more often to tan my legs. Then I could have skipped the stockings.
Suddenly, my brother-in-law-to-be cries out, “A double rainbow! Run!” We all turn around and follow him like a cavalry charge up a small hill in the opposite direction. When we get there, the photographer arranges the bridesmaids, ushers, bride, and groom. The double rainbow arches gracefully in the sky behind us. We try not to pant or sweat or look tired. We smile big smiles as he snaps the perfect picture.
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