COLUMN: From Where I Sit

A weekend of firsts is how I will remember it. My first-born child married the love of her life on Saturday, June 14. For the first time, I watched as she walked down the aisle, looking breathtakingly beautiful I might add, to take another last name as her own.

My daughter is now Mandy Murph.

I remember the feeling when I first uttered the words Ardie Arvidson. It was one of trepidation. I wasn’t sure I was ready to give up the name that I had all of my life.
Men just can’t understand the mixed emotions a woman has when her name changes.

A guest told me the wedding held some firsts for her, too. It was the first wedding she had been to that the congregation sang a song and where boiled peanuts were served at the reception.

It was also the first time I had ever seen my mother dance. On the dance floor at the reception, looking very elegant, she took the hand of her youngest grandchild.
The wedding was not without its "glitches." All weddings have them. It’s funny, however, that the only thing that stands out in my mind now is how beautiful my daughter looked at the altar.

Those of you who have been following our road to the altar through my column know that I was just a little concerned about the rehearsal taking place on Friday the 13th. I can report that the rehearsal and dinner were great. The video they showed of our children’s lives from birth to their high school and college graduation and their engagement was emotional, especially for the father of the bride.

However, it was an early morning phone call on the 13th that reaffirmed my concerns. Two key players in making a self-catered reception go off without a hitch were no longer going to be available due to a medical emergency.

Shock, panic and numbness came over me as I put down the telephone receiver.

What were we going to do?

If it hadn’t been for my sister from New Jersey and John’s brother who flew in from Panama, I might have run away at that very moment. I still had two helpers.

It could be done. We’d been in tight spots before. Hadn’t I said for years that I worked best under pressure? After all, my entire career has been working under deadlines.
It was apparent by the end of the day that we weren’t going to accomplish all of what I had intended.

The day of the wedding, three friends that I don’t deserve, and a wonderful aunt and uncle came to our rescue.

Hazel and Robin, who were at the reception site that morning for a pool party and cookout, happened to see John and ask if they could help. By the end of the day, I bet they were sorry they ever asked. They took charge and sent me on to the wedding just in time and continued to work tirelessly to make things happen while we watched our daughter and new son-in-law take their vows.

By the time John and I arrived at the reception, Hazel, Robin and my co-worker Tomika had everything under control.

I owe them all a big thank you for making this day one of the best days of my life. Every mother dreams of the day their daughter gets married.
I didn’t worry at all during the ceremony. I knew everything was in capable hands.

The next day when I started to think about the things that went wrong those thoughts were pushed out of my head and what came to mind was the vision of my daughter standing in the church looking like a princess.

That’s the memory that will be with me forever.

From where I sit it was the answer to a prayer whispered many years ago in a hospital room.