Daily Prompt: The Clock

I had never been this nervous in my entire life.  Never.  Does every bride have the jitters on her wedding day?  I was usually as calm as a cucumber.  Not today.

My mom and I were in the Sunday School room at the church making final adjustments to my dress, my shoes, my makeup.  The photographer was creeping around taking a few impromptu shots of us.   He was beginning to annoy me.

One of the reasons for my nerves being on edge was my future husband’s sense of time.   He had been late for our first date and had been late ever since.  I really didn’t need that pressure to worry about today and we had discussed it.  A few minutes ago, though, I heard a car door slam and worriedly looked at my wristwatch.  I peeked out the window just in time to see him arrive with his mom and dad and …. he was an hour early!

“Remind me to thank his mother,”  I thought to myself.  I was pretty sure it was her doing.

Mom and I continued to do all those last little things that needed to be done.  My Dad sneaked in and sat in the corner looking totally nervous and ridiculous at the same time.  We were in the primary Sunday School room and there was my long-legged Dad all dressed up in his Sunday best, all scrunched up in a tiny preschool chair.  He was actually wringing his hands.

I was still waiting for my matron of honor to arrive.  My best friend from grade school, my college roommate, my partner in a few high school crimes… all rolled into one young woman.  She was my only attendant…. none of those weddings with 6 bridemaids for me.   All you needed was one.   And she wasn’t there yet.  Again I looked at my watch.  It was already 2:15.  I was supposed to walk down the aisle at 2:30.   The jitters were getting worse.  I was a little angry and a little worried.  I had never had to worry about my best friend.  She was supposed to have been here at 1:30 but had called me this morning and said she and her new husband would be attending a festival and parade in her husband’s home town just a few miles away.  She assured me she would be there by 2:00.

The florist had come in looking for her.  They had prepared a headband of fresh flowers for her to wear in her hair.  All of the corsages for the parents, best man, and ushers  had been pinned and straightened.  All that was left was the headband and our 2 bouquets.   I began to pace and wonder what I would do if she didn’t show up.  My mother was in worse shape at that point than I was…. she was the nervous Nelly of the family.  We decided if the worst thing happened and the matron of honor didn’t show up, Mom would step in and take over.

The door burst open.   My matron of honor had arrived.  She looked a bit frazzled  and said, “Sorry, I ran out of gas.”   The headband was place on her head, she grabbed the bouquet.   My Mom was escorted down the aisle to her seat.  My one-and-only bridesmaid headed toward the sanctuary and Dad and I followed.

I am not sure why I don’t look nervous!

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