The Swaying of the Moment

The excitement and enthusiasm of the weekend has ended. We, the family, had a wedding to attend and take part in. The youngest of the cousins tied the knot publicly and all those far flung sibling and might-as-well-be siblings came together for the dinners, parties and camaraderie of the last few days. The joyful, exuberant greeting of all at the rehearsal dinner, of course, tempered somewhat with the concerning news of our parent taking a tumble, was the start. The everyone-talking-at-once reunion and laughter and story relating was like a warmly stoked flame that had settled into embers since the last time we met. The day of the wedding began raining, but it stopped in time to finally let the sun shine down on the mountaintop as these two young people surrounded by their families and friends, told everyone of their commitment and devotion to themselves and their future together. When the pictures were finally taken and the event moved to the food and festivities, it was back to the story telling, talking over one another and laughing conversations started the evening before. As the afternoon wore on and everyone settled into schmoozing and sipping ambiance, we were informed of the dancing couples first foray on the dance floor as Mr. and Mrs. Then Bride and her dad.

Ah, but when Groom and his mom took the floor, well. We watched as the sister who had three sons swayed gently in her youngest arms, the way she used to sway with him as an infant. She sang snatches of the song they were dancing to, the same way she used to softly sing little lullabies to him. And he, bless him, held onto her as she so longs to be held by her sons, for just that little bit of time. And I, not knowing what song that was but not really hearing it, was transported to the myriads of memories of sharing this one's upbringing, of listening to her happiness and love as she told me of his accomplishments as if they were her own. Her husband, the dad of the Groom, stood by, head down, looking at his shoes, but I just know he was thinking of all those years, all those memories.  It was a moment out of time, that was. And even though there are pictures from every possible angle, it is the one in my mind I see. Of him holding his mom as she deserves to be held, while swaying to a tune, for just a little while.