High Noon on the Ninth
It was a glorious summers day.
The sun was high and so were my spirits. It was the dawning of a new life. I woke early and quietly set about pressing my outfit for the day. The outfit was bought months earlier and spent the intervening time rolled in a ball and stuffed in a weekend case on top of the wardrobe! Freshly pressed I hung it in readiness at the back of the bedroom door.
The household was at this stage coming to life so I made my way down to breakfast. I met brother No. 2 on the stairs, he was on his way up with breakfast on a tray for my father. In the kitchen my mother was finished eating and ready to keep her appointment with the hairdresser. My sister-in-law (sil) stood to pour me a coffee and offered to make some toast. The chat was sparse and in hushed tones…. it almost had a funereal feeling about it. You know, when people whisper in case they waken the corpse.
Once the dishes were washed the kitchen cleared my sil and I headed for town to have our hair done. It was soon time to return to the house where I applied my mother’s make-up, sorted my sil’s cut shins, calmed my father and dispatched Brother No.2 to collect Jack from where he was staying.
Brother No. 4 arrived and took my mother and sil to the church, leaving my father who was pacing the floor, and I in my semi dressed state to the silent house. Brother No. 4 would lead mammy to her pew and then return to collect my father and I. It was time to don the outfit. As I moved to reach the hanger there was a knock on the bedroom door. It was Brother No.1 He had dropped his wife off at the church (8 minutes away), spoken to Jack and came to have a quiet word with me. He hugged me (the only one I had by that stage of the day) and he wished me all the happiness in the world in my new life. He told me that Jack was waiting for me and he looked happy. With another squeeze he was gone and I stepped into my outfit.
Descending the stairs, my father was still pacing the floor. He turned and the words he offered were “Is that you ready now”?
Making sure I had no lipstick on my teeth.
Brother No 4 had the car turned and the doors open for us so off we went. 8 minutes and we were at the Church. Brother No.1 was at the door to meet us. Brother No.4 was with us. Suddenly, my father who had poor health, said
“I cannot do it!”
I think the boys were half expecting this, so after five minutes discussing the various options my father said he would walk me up the aisle. It must have looked like a real comedy piece with a brother walking up each side aisle, pace for pace with my father as he walked the nave with me. The idea was that if he became unwell, one brother would take him out and the other would walk me up to Jack.
A few tense moments
I was passed over to Jack and as we turned to face my Uncle who was officiating, the Angelus Bell rang. It was 12 noon. My uncle smiled as he greeted us remarking aloud about us getting the time spot on.
Very soon the Marriage Service was over and we were on our way back down the aisle and on to the house for the party in the back garden.
Happy Ever After
We had a small wedding by choice - immediate family only - 24 in total turned out that day. My mother wore the same colour as I did. My sister wore white and five of the ladies, three of them sister in laws, wore pink! So much for communication and consultation.
That was 32 years ago today.
I mentioned the day once before here.
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Marriage is certainly about more than fancy outfits, new hairdos, walking aisles and big parties…. There is of course the everyday living with the quirks and habits of those we marry to deal with. Even today when I hear a man whistle it is a reminder of Jack and enough to pull me out of a daydream.
The following video is sad but I hope you will see the funny side too. It is what makes life real. I stole found it at Alice’s My Wintersong
Nick said,
July 9, 2009 at 1:47 pm
A wonderful memory. Jenny and I had plenty of time to adjust to each other’s quirks and habits as we lived together for 14 years before we got married. In fact we only married because if Jenny died, her local authority pension could only transfer to her husband. There was just the two of us and two friends as witnesses, so it couldn’t have been simpler.
rummuser said,
July 9, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Grannymar, you made me cry. Both with your write up about your wedding and the movie.
I loved it and, I hope that I have your permission to, I am sharing the video with a host of others who do not visit the blogworld.
If I had to rank this post on a scale of ten, it will get ten hands down!
Thank you.
Lily said,
July 9, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Grannymar, great post. You looked beautiful. I enjoyed the video clip at the end also, good message. Enjoy the memories today of that day 32 years ago.
Grannymar said,
July 9, 2009 at 2:52 pm
@Nick - You had the important people!
@Ramana - I am sorry to make you cry. I am sure your friends will enjoy the video. I notice it is available in several different languages.
@Lily - Thank you. I still have the top and fit into it even if everything has sunk south!
Rowan Manahan said,
July 9, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Mar - you haven’t changed a bit. Still that worrying twinkle in your eye.
I am 14 years married this Christmas and my enduring memory of my preparations on that cold December morning is of discovering that my mother (I spent the night in the house I grew up in with her) had no shampoo in the house; so I ended up washing my hair with Winnie-The-Pooh bubble bath.
kenju said,
July 9, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I remember the other post, but I have to say you looked beautiful and I love your dress!!
I linked to you today.
Nancy said,
July 9, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Grannymar,
What lovely memories you have of your Wedding Day.
You looked beautiful in your gown and I am delighted that you and Jack had many happy years together and a wonderful daughter to cherish..
The video was touching,funny and sad..Quite a combination.
Grannymar said,
July 9, 2009 at 4:06 pm
@Rowan -
Next you will tell me the Winnie-The-Pooh bubble bath was there since you were a child! 
@Judy - Thank you. I am pleased that I inspired you not to dispose of the old keys.
@Nancy - The memories are good.
Alice said,
July 9, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Oh Grannymar, you’re so funny! “Stole” indeed; indeed, ever since you told me the video prompted an idea for a new post and wanted to use it I’ve been watching for it! Worth the wait, it was a wonderful read. I’m glad you stole it from me. (ha ha, and YouTube) You can steal from me anytime if it leads to memories like this. You looked sensational. You were about as skinny (i mean, slim) as me.
Alice said,
July 9, 2009 at 4:09 pm
…around the same time, I hasten to add! I’ve put on about 20 pounds since my wedding day. I think you’re very close to the same, even if things have “moved south” a bit as you claim.
Kate said,
July 9, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Hey pretty lady! You looked beautiful on your special day!
Enjoy your memories!
steph said,
July 9, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Dearest Grannymar
So beautifully told! The similarities (pre-wedding ceremony) with my own wedding, are uncanny.
You tell it so well. I loved this post and especially the pics. And you haven’t changed a bit!
Unfortunately, I can’t download the video to enjoy but will do so as soon as I can.
Happy Anniversary! (((hugs)))
Grannymar said,
July 9, 2009 at 4:25 pm
@Alice - Snap! I have put on exactly 20 pounds in those 32 years… I wonder if that means I have reached middle age?
@Kate - I always mark the day in some little way.
@Steph - That drip is doing funny things if you say I haven’t changed. You met me and saw the creases!
steph said,
July 9, 2009 at 5:28 pm
OK Grannymar…
You were beautiful and you still are!
Enjoy the memories of your wedding day.
Grannymar said,
July 9, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Steph,
I think you need the eyes checked before you come home!
I am sitting with my feet up, drink in hand and guess what is playing through my earphones as I type….. ‘The Merry Widow Waltz’!
rummuser said,
July 9, 2009 at 5:55 pm
It is even better with the photographs.
Brighid said,
July 9, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Bless you for a beautiful post, and happy memories. Would that the rest of us had the turn of phrase that you & the lady in the video have. But then it would not be so appreciated, I’m thinking.
wisewebwoman said,
July 9, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Can’t see the video, GM, but I so enjoyed your post and I was reminded of my own post last November when I wrote about my wedding day and my little sister’s dress which didn’t fit!
You and the men in your life in the pics look wonderful!!
I love your dress, did you make it?
XO
WWW
Ian said,
July 9, 2009 at 6:41 pm
As he waited for you to come up the aisle, so he’s waiting now.
Blessings.
Grannymar said,
July 9, 2009 at 7:03 pm
@Ramana - I didn’t realise that the photos were not visible earlier. A minor glitch I hope.
@Brighid - We all have our own way of saying things and there is room for everyone.
@WWW - Alas, no I didn’t make my outfit it was made by Pat Crowley.
@Ian - Your response makes me smile. Someday when I meet you in person I will explain!
Maz said,
July 9, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Sounds like you had a great day and a wonderful marriage, here’s hoping my day (and marriage) will be half as good!!
Grannymar said,
July 9, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Maz,
Once the ceremony was over, sleeves were rolled up and everyone relaxed. They were still celebrating a week later when we returned from honeymoon. The excuse was that the Guinness needed to be finished and the emptied barrel returned!
I wish you happines like I felt for your big day and the life to follow.
Darlene said,
July 9, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Grannymar, your dress was beautiful and so are you. You and Jack look so happy after taking your vows. I think your day was just wonderful and when you hear all of the things that can go wrong on your wedding day I think you were very lucky. Even the sun shone on you.
Grannymar said,
July 9, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Darlene,
I felt comfortable and elegant in my outfit. I was fortunate to have a sun filled life with Jack.
d@\/e said,
July 9, 2009 at 10:58 pm
What I want to know is, if you’d had a mobile phone then would you have been twittering or tweeting going up the aisle?
Grannymar said,
July 9, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Dave,
No way! Jack had my full attention, in fact if he was still alive, I doubt I would want to spend time blogging.
Baino said,
July 9, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Aww so lovely. And it is the little things we remember. I miss the bouncing of the bed . . .no . no not that sort of bouncing. Ray used to play golf very early on Saturday mornings and bounce on the end of the bed while putting his socks on! Drove me insane! Happy sort of anniversary GM and you looked beautifully understated.
Gary said,
July 10, 2009 at 8:07 am
Thats just a wonderful post.
That moment when the bride is left in the house with her father waiting for the car to take them to the church, its the moment that my wife says she dreaded the most, she told her dad not to say anything to her because she knew they’d both burst into tears.
“Is that you ready then” sounds about right to me, I’ll remember that for my own two daughters !
Nelly said,
July 10, 2009 at 9:32 am
What a handome man your Jack was. You both looked wonderfully happy on your wedding day.
Grannymar said,
July 10, 2009 at 9:50 am
@Baino - I miss the bouncing on the bed too. Both types!
@Gary - Don’t let that be the only phrase to pass between you on their special days.
@Nelly - He was and we were!
Annb said,
July 10, 2009 at 11:29 am
What a lovely post GM you looked so beautiful and happy on your wedding day.
On that day 32 years ago, I was celebrating my 10th birthday with a big creamy cake in our back garden! My own Dad passed away 3 years later, so wasn’t there to walk me up the aisle 11 years ago on July 4th. It was poignant without him but my brother made a wonderful stand in.
Grannymar said,
July 10, 2009 at 11:43 am
Annb,
Belated Happy Birthday for yesterday!
I am sure your brother did you proud on your special day.
Maureen said,
July 10, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Such a beautiful post! Thank you so much for sharing.
I’ve been absent from blog reading for a few months and realize now how much I’ve missed the delights on certain blogs, such as yours.
Grannymar said,
July 10, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Maureen,
Welcome back and thank you.