What is it About Weddings...and Babies?

Okay. Have you ever watched the movie The Mirror has Two Faces with Barbara Streisand? It's really a wonderful watch, and it has many corollaries to real life. There's this scene where she's describing her sister's wedding to her class (she's a literary professor) and I thought of this scene yesterday at my nieces wedding.

I had no part in it -- so unlike Streisand I couldn't say I was part of the stereotypes. But in watching the proceedings, I realized a book could have been written about this point in time. It wouldn't be a happy one, because in some eyes, there wasn't a happy ending. It's one of those, did she make the right choice? moments.

I watched my niece, who didn't look happy through the whole ceremony, and didn't really seem awake as she greeted us afterward, and wondered if she was on drugs. She didn't show any animation or happiness until after we were eating and things mellowed a little. My husband pointed out that perhaps it was nerves and she's pregnant, (yes, there is that) and stuff.

It could also be the knowledge that she'd shut her mother out of the proceedings and only allowed her to participate. Yeah.

I quoted an old phrase in my other blog a week or so ago... You can pick your friends but you can't pick your family. Boy oh boy.

Well...the wedding and it's initial drama is over. I guess we'll see how things go.



Did I mention I'm going to be a grandma before the end of the year?? That's right...the son that got married (which I hadn't mentioned before either...long story) told us last week that his wife is expecting.

Not only that, but my un-married daughter is also expecting. They are due within days of each other.

This should be a real interesting year...

The Art of Giftwrap

I attended a wedding shower over the weekend, and it was full of women, friendly chatter, yummy food and opening presents. I guess the whole games thing has gone by the way, which is okay by me -- we had enough fun just chatting. But what was fun were the presents! One of them, made up by my sister, was a large wok full of fun kitchen utensils. Only, instead of wrapping the whole thing up in paper, she took two different colors of tissue and stuck them in between the different things so it looked like a crazy pot of color. It was great.

Many people I know feel that gifts are a waste of time. Or at least gift wrapping is -- but I love the look of a wrapped present. There's nothing more delightful to me than to see a stack of gorgeous wrapping and the creativity that people come up with.



I guess it's the off shoot of scrapbooking -- kind of the stamp thing. People get carried away with cards and stamps and come up with ideas that are gorgeous and one of a kind. One of the cards to this party was crafty one with a bride and groom on the front with added decoration. It was the kind of card you know someone had made just for them. It shows thoughtfulness and caring. Some people at my work have a gift card ring going. Once a month, they make up 12 sets of 2 cards and then they get gathered and divided among the participants. The result is 12 different gift tags that are unique and special. I'd be reluctant to use them, because they were so gorgeous.

I know in our crazy world right now, gift bags have become the norm. I keep the bags I get and use them over and over. Some of the gift bags are really cute, with things attached to them or extra decorations to make them more special -- but it's still a bag.



One of my favorite ways to give gifts is in a large basket lined with kitchen towels or large napkins, depending on what I'm putting in it. When I have time and money, I like to really be creative, like my sister was.



Another gift, which kind of doesn't go along with my delight in wrapping paper, is the one we give all my neices and nephews that get married. We find some kind of bucket -- preferably one that can be used in their married life, a bottle of sparkling apple juice and two special glasses. We stick it in the traveling vehicle and wish them well on their life together. This was something that was done for us on our honeymoon, and we enjoyed it immensely. The same shower that I went to, was for the fiance of my nephew. We've already found him an official ice bucket -- however it's red. I don't think they'll mind, but if they do I guess they can always paint it. grin.

We've got the bottle of sparkling juice, now I'm just trying to find the right glasses. We'll tie it all together with a bit of silver and gold ribbon, and they won't care that it's not wrapped.

In reality, wrapping is not all that matters -- but I think it's a definite art form and one that should be continued. Don't let lack of time spoil your joy in the gift that your giving -- make it special for them, and for you.

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