Mercy & Cal

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Mercy and Cal were married at 11:00 Saturday morning under the rafters of Grace Community Chapel.

As little as Collette usually enjoyed weddings, she was happy for an old friend. Photographs of Judy and Cal’s Mom had been placed on separate tables opposite the unity candle. And when the inevitable question was asked – “Who gives this woman away?” – Mercy’s dad turned to her and said:

“Her mom and I.”

Judy would have been proud.

Everything was autumn orange, candles, and bundles of long-stemmed wildflowers. Despite the laborious task of the candle lighters (Malaya and Julia) and Puck finding it necessary to make hysterical outbursts at poor Peter and his Papa (because he was, apparently, mortifyingly tired, teething, and had cut the back of his head on OLeif’s usher pin), most everything seemed to go well for Mercy’s wedding day. Collette did find herself thankful that Cal, who decided to carry his bride down the aisle at the end, did not trip or tear Mercy’s lengthy train. And, of course, Carrie making laughable comments throughout the ceremony, did not help any potentially comedic moments.

Collette saw only a flash of the reception – Mercy’s cake – smoothed stacked chocolate boxes with their bases wrapped in translucent bronze ribbon. That was all she saw because Puck needed some outside time to calm his sleepy baby spirits.

All in all, a hot, blue-skied, cloud-filled day.