The Best Things In Life . . .

"Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me." - Carl Sandburg

pic from my-wedding-cake-ideas.com

We have returned from our brief trip to attend my nephew's wedding reception.  Said nephew now resides near the southern tip of Texas and hasn't been back to Kansas for nearly two years.  During this time, he spent a few days in Vegas and went home married to a lovely woman.  (The lovely woman went to Vegas with him.  I mean, it's not like he just found some chicky to marry while he was on a bender.)  It was actually planned in advance, but the arrangements didn't include his mama, who felt somewhat - and justifiably - left out.  Not to be denied the opportunity to celebrate her son's nuptials, she planned a  small reception for about forty family members and friends.  The decorations were gorgeous, the catered meal was delicious, and the wedding cake was elegant. (The pic is not the actual cake - do you really think it occurred to me to snap some pictures? - but this one is similar.)  

The best part was the impromptu gathering at my sister's house afterwards.  Keep in mind that she already had both of her children, their spouses, one granddaughter and two dogs in her house, then Dave, my Mom and I piled in.  We gathered around the dining room to watch the happy couple open their gifts.  Then the bride requested to see some of her new husband's baby pictures and learn more about his family.  Hilarity ensued!  Sis hauled out a huge bag of random pictures - covering more than thirty years - which were waiting to be put into albums, and we all dug in.  We shared memories and embarrassing stories, passing pictures back and forth while we laughed and all talked at once.  I think the most common phrase heard was "Look how thin I was!"  Around 1:00 a.m. the left-overs were pulled back out of the fridge for a little snack, and then it was time to head back to Mom's and hit the sack.  

I have tried to create this kind of moment in the past, but it's been my experience that when you plan them, they never work out.  The best things happen when you just relax and go-with-the-flow.  In spite of my grumbling about loading back into the car for another weekend trip, this turned out to be a special time with family.  There's a lesson in there somewhere, but I refuse to examine it too deeply for fear I'll have to admit to being wrong.