The Wedding - Part 1

Editor's Note: This was originally published on my MySpace blog on May 7, 2006

My daughter Candie is officially Mrs. Thomas O. Wedding now. It happened two weeks ago in Hawaii in what was probably the simplest, sweetest and most meaningful wedding I've been to in a very long time. She looked beautiful in her white cotton sundress and lei made out of yellow plumerias. She had a single flower in her hair (carefully placed on the left side to signify that she is married as dictated by Hawaiian custom). Thomas was equally handsome in his dark slacks, white dress shirt and the traditional lei worn by men which is open at the bottom.

The day I and my "entourage" arrived in Hawaii, we were met at the airport gate by Candie and Thomas with leis and hugs and kisses. My sister also met us and we piled in the rented mini van for the drive to the hotel. We checked in, changed into swimming suits and shorts and set out to see Candie's apartment, then headed to the North Shore. Candie was calm but I knew reality hadn't quite set in yet so I braced myself for what would surely come later. After hanging around the North Shore we went back to the hotel, cleaned up and went out for dinner. Thomas' parents were with us all day and we had a wonderful time. Around midnight, Candie and Thomas separated; her into my room and him into the room with my sons. They would not be allowed to see each other until the wedding the next day.

I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed laying on my bed and seeing my two girls asleep in their bed. It was the last night Candie would be my little girl and I was so thankful that I was there to enjoy it. Early in the morning, Candie's phone rang and it was Clarissa. She went into the bathroom to take the call and it made me happy to know that they were able to share a few moments before the wedding.

In the morning, we all showered and Nicole and I went to the dining room for breakfast while Candie rested in the room. She had a headache and was tired from trying to sleep with Nicole! Soon we were getting ready, putting on make up, curling hair and putting on our wedding clothes. My sister and niece came into the room for a while and Tina and Candie spent a little "cousin" time. I gave Candie her "something blue", a beaded ankle bracelet made out of blue beads, my mom gave her her "something old", one of her handkerchiefs from years ago, and Tina gave her "something borrowed", a diamond tennis bracelet. About this time, Rick came to the room to talk to his little sister. Soon after that it was time to go! We managed to get Candie downstairs and into the car without Thomas seeing her. Rick stood by the garage with his cell phone so he could call Thomas to come out of their room when Candie was safely out of sight. We drove to the beach and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. While we waited, some of the friends gathered and we all waited together. Finally, we called Rick and found out that Thomas, his parents, Rick and David were lost!

TO BE CONTINUED. . .