Tears, as I remember our Christchurch wedding venue
Today I have been looking at a photo from the wedding of our daughter, held last March. It shows my elderly mother standing onthe steps of the church with our side of the bridal party. She is beaming a huge smile, with her arm linked with the groom on one side, and our other daughter on the other in her bridesmaid dress.
This has a special poignancy today, because that wedding day was an exception for my mother: she was alert and active then, but had been struggling with years of small heart attacks that left her weaker each time, until last night she came to the point of passing on. ("I’m going"’, she announced several times to my sisters and I around the bed side.)
Well, it is now morning and mum is still with us. But very weak. It is most likely she will depart today. The young bride of last March rang her from Australia and said goodby two days ago. The other granddaughter, athe bridesmaid in March, has been callling her from the other side of New Zealand, and late last night emailed her a tearful tribute and thankyou.
How I would like to turn back the clock and have that day again at our Christchurch wedding venue Of course this will not happen. Instead I am gratified at the way her two granddaughters in that photo have adopted so many of her values and committments.
