The Big Day

 THE BIG DAY

OCTOBER 7, 2000

 This was written by Celia when we lived in Cottage Grove from 2000 to 2006.    I found it in our old Windows 98 files.   Janice and Kasey helped me get it on the blog.   Celia, a much better writer than me, so should be a change from my short dull essays.  There are some more I will try to get on the blog.  

 

 

    As Celia and Mike took the back roads to the little country chapel to get married, they were both silent as their minds filled with thoughts.  The weather could not be any better.  It was a warm, sunny afternoon about 3 o'clock; the air was soft, and the trees along the way showed their fall colors on the nearby hillsides.  It was a 20-minute ride from Cottage Grove to the Cloverdale Chapel.  Mike had decided to take the back roads instead of the freeway to avoid stress and to enjoy the pleasant fall scenery.  That morning and early afternoon had been busy with warming and packing food for the reception, and getting everyone (eight of us in all) presentable for the wedding ceremony.  Anxiety, at least on the part of the bride and groom, reached a peak.  All week prior to The Big Day, Mike's digestive system had rebelled, requiring a quick trip to the doctors in order to get things moving.  Celia's tension had surfaced in other ways…two early-morning 4 a.m. risings to bake breads and wedding cake were now taking their toll on her, and she had difficulty in remembering any fact for more than a nanosecond.  Fortunately, the children of this pathetic couple had it together and steered both safely out to the car; now, as they silently drove to the chapel, Mike wondered whether the guests would find it, whether all would happen in a timely manner, and what was on Celia's mind.

 

     She was beginning to realize the full implications of this trip.  It wasn't just a Saturday drive.  A wonderful commitment would shortly be made with this man she dearly loved, and she looked forward to it with all her heart.  She felt tears trying to surface…oh, no!  Then she calmed herself.  The little chapel at the corner of Rogers and Danstrom Roads appeared, a charming little building of yesteryear in a setting of trees and flowers.  The door was opened invitingly, and the sun shone down upon all with a golden light.  Soon the wedding supplies and children emerged from cars and things began to hum.  Celia found the wedding bouquet, still in water…she didn't know how to hold it or where its ribbon was, and so the flower lady had to show her.  Amid this conversation, friends Helen and Trulene came from the front of the church to the backroom to ooh and ah and gush with happiness.  More conversation and time was fleeting.  Celia still had to change into her wedding attire!  Mike was suffering greatly, being the timely person he is. At last, Rosanne rose to the challenge. She steered her mother in the back of the modesty screen that served as a dressing room and helped her change.  Then, it was one minute past four o'clock.  Time to go into the church and tremblingly stand before Kirk, the one who would marry them.  He began to welcome the guests, and all conversation ceased quickly as the ceremony began.  He went on to read the story of how Mike and Celia met on Mt. Pisgah, and in a few short minutes (and after a gratifying amount of laughter from those observing), it was time for the couple to read each other the vows of love.  Celia went first; she had hardly gotten the first two words out then those tears she'd choked back earlier won out.  Mike feared her emotional state would delay the progress of this event.  He firmly gripped her hand in hopes she could control herself.  It worked!!  The ceremony was done in 12 minutes, 2 minutes over what Mike had carefully planned for.  Although not accomplished in the perfectly timely manner his orderly mind had anticipated, Mike regrouped quickly and managed quite a respectable kiss to seal the deal!

 

     The reception followed in the back of the chapel.  Here 30 plus people gathered for food, congratulations, and conversation.  There were many different personality types in this group:  professionals, non-professionals, marrieds, singles, young and old alike.  Many did not know each other and various topics floated on the autumn air.  For example, one young woman, obsessed with composting, traveled from group to group extolling the virtues of a new compost which developed from gooey green matter to magnificent plant benefiter in only 14 days.  Many eyes were glazed over as she preached the Word of Compost, and some early departures of guests were noted.  This did not deter her, however, for she stayed until the sun began to set, having cornered Mike, Celia, and one other guest as they were locking up the outhouse and preparing to leave.  Mike's sense of timeliness had gone out the window at this point.  He took it all in stride, however.  He had earlier weathered a crisis at the reception when Celia had gotten sidetracked several times on her way to cut the cake.  That, on top of several other failed attempts to keep his bride on a strict schedule, gave Mike a new perspective.  Life, after all, is too short.  All in all, both bride and groom had a wonderful Big Day.