The Wedding

My baby cousin got married Friday. And I say baby cousin because that is how I will always see her. My mother, sister and I moved in with her family when my parents were freshly divorced and we left the state in search for a new life. My baby cousin hadn't even been born yet. I was (almost) four and I remember standing outside one hot summer night waving to my aunt as my uncle drove her to the hospital. So that makes her twenty. (I'm turning 24 in two weeks, holy shit!) And now she's married. Wow. You know, I kept seeing the little five year old tomboy in pigtails when I looked at her, not the beautiful model-esque adult she has become. I kept seeing her squatting on the curb poking at ants with a stick, not wanting to play with the barbies her older sister and I would keep shoving in her face.
She was beautiful. The ceremony was beautiful.
The wedding was on the beach. I took these pictures so you can see the view. Breath-taking, huh? We were all barefoot most of the day, as the ceremony was on the sand and the reception was in the grassy backyard of the summer home they rented for the event. We had a wonderful time (and yes, Jay, it was only one wedding this time. Though if someone else had been getting married that day I would not have gone. This is family. Totally more important than anyone and anything else) and cried with the speeches and cried when she danced with her wonderful father. And we cheered as they kissed and cried as we said good-byes, because not only were we saying good-bye to the new couple, I felt I was saying good-bye to the little girl who screamed at the sight of a dress. (We have pictures of her sitting in church with the biggest scowl on her face because she had to wear a dress to services.) She's all grown up, and I'm happy for them both. I wish them both a beautiful life together.
This picture is when they were announcing the new couple at the reception, my Little Man was standing on the table and he was cheering and clapping along with us. I had to capture the moment. That's the back of my mother. Like her hair? My sister did it in five minutes right before we left...

So that was my Friday.