For those of you who don’t know, Brandon and I both graduated high school from a very small school. I was in the largetst ever graduating class, 120 people. Brandon was one of the smallest, 60 people. Neddless to say, it was a small town. Brandon’s Mom still lives there and we visit every so often. Last night, one of his employees got “hitched” (as they say!) and we once again found ourselves reliving the small town life! Here is our experience:
We dropped off the kids at my Mom’s and were running a little late, so we decieded to just run into Subway and grab a sandwich. They actually have 3 choices for Fast Food now, Hardee’s (the only choice when we lived there), Sonic, and Subway. We walk in and to the right of us is the “employee” table. It is filled with drinks, cookies, half eaten sandwiches, and lots of tanning lotions! Apparently they go next door to the tanning bed on their breaks! All three girls had lovely tans! The customer in front of us-we weren’t sure at first if she was female or male. We saw her sweet face and knew she was female. Her hair was cut in a mullet, thus the confussion. The customer behind us very impatient at the line-must have been an employee from the tanning bed place on break! We finally get through the line and head out to the car. Mind you that it is POURING down rain. Apparently the builder wanted to save a few bucks and did’nt put up gutters, so we were showered with fresh rain as we exited the building!
Now, off to Fred’s (also a new addition since we have been gone) to pick up a wedding card for the couple. Although, Brandon thought it was perfectly accaptable to just hand them the cash! I ask Brandon to go in alone because at this point I am already drenched. He comes out laughing at his experience-as he was in the checkout line, someone exits the store and the security alarm begins buzzing. The two employees both look at each other puzzled and one ask the other, “what should we do?” the other replies, “I don’t know why they are going off, she didn’t even buy anything.” Exactly, they aren’t put there to let you know someone paid for something! As we pull out of the parking lot, we laugh about a truck that had apparently gotten stuck on a hill and just simply left there. It appeared to have been there a while now. Do they have tow trucks here? Imagine a truck trying to 4 wheel up the bank of the new Indian Lake Sreets and just simply being left there. Wouldn’t that look nice?
2 task down one to go-the wedding! On our way there I notice a huge field on the left hand side of the road. In the field there is a circle, about the size of a baseball field, sectioned off with tires, half dug into the ground! What’s up with that? Anyone know???
The wedding was sweet and uhhh…small townish?? As we open the door to the church, we immediatly ar in the face of the bride and groom-the bride is instructing the groom when to give her the ring and when to say “I do” and “I will.” The groom is laughing with his buddies and half paying attention. Obviously, there is no “unveiling” of the bride as she is escorted down the aisle. Everyone is rushing around in the sanctuary. I think there was even a small daycare going on in the back 5 pews. Nothin’ like a little down home country music playin’ in the background! The ceremony shortly begins and the guest are all ready, cell phone cameras in hand. Some on record and some of camera. Flash, chi-ching, chi-ching, flash…was this supposed to be the bridal march? As the bride is walked down the aisle by her Dad, who I think the Pastor forgot to release??? She looks lovely! The Pastor finally releases the Dad and the bride to be and groom to be exchange rings. The groom is a little confused where her ring is. Did he not pay attention to her instructions, I sure did, I knew exactly where is was. I wanted to just say, your pocket dude, check your pocket! After getting a “no” from the ring bearer, the light came on-pocket! He placed the ring on her finger and exchanged his vow. Now for the bride. She knows exactly who has her ring, but apparently she failed to pay attention to what hand it went on. As she put it on the right hand, her sweet groom tried to discretly swith hands with her-she was having none of that! Apparently, she thought she had the correct hand. After the exchange of the vows, the couple went to light the unity candle where the husband did switch the ring onto his left hand. The “unity candle song” had just began as the Pastor nudges them, a couple of times, to come back to the center where he motions for the music to stop and then pronounces them Husband and Wife. Ohhh it’s not over yet!
We still have the reception. My sister-in-law is a bridesmaid and is informing me of who everyone was. By the way, she looking adorable in her capris and pink polo shirt! Yes, I did say bridesmaid. I ask her who one girl is imparticular and she replies, “Oh, her, she is in love with my husband!” Uhh..ok? Apparently, she is an old fling who I will have to say demonstrated a few sighns as though she does have a thing for my brother-in-law. After we all wrote our piece of “advice” for the bride and groom on placement cards, we decieded we were going to head out. Not so fast, they were cutting the cake! In traditional style, the bride smears cake all over the husband’s sweet face and he puts a little dab on hers!
Wow, the things you miss when you leave a small town!
