All because two people fell in love

My nephew got married this weekend and what a beautiful wedding it was. Knowing the bride-to-be and her family, I knew it was going to be spectacular anyway. They always put on a great show!

The wedding was held at the Round Barn at the Taylor County Historical Museum and it was fantastic! I had never been in the round barn before so I couldn't stop looking around.

The weather was windy. I mean really windy! At one point in the service, the wind blew so hard, I was sure a tornado was within earshot. But everything was fine and the gorgeous evening turned into a fun night.

As we walked up the sidewalk to the barn, there was a sign. “You are my sunshine” painted on, what looked to be, old boards. A little further up and we came to “My only sunshine.” And so it followed suit all the way up to the barn, “You make me happy,” “When skies are gray,” “You'll never know dear,” “How much I love you,” “Please don't take,” “My sunshine away!” The signs weaved side-to-side and it was very inviting. So see, I was smiling before I ever got inside!

At the door, I met up with the groom-to-be, Jordan. Gave him a huge hug and told him how excited I was that he was about to be a married man. I could just feel the excitement happening in his life. Of course he told me he was excited too and the smile on his face was just too cute!

So we get inside the barn...out of the wind...and I immediately start looking for windows and any type of circulation. And I don't see anything substantial at first. As we are ushered by some of the best and most handsome guys around (Alex, Tyler & Zach), I tell Tyler he needs to put me somewhere that I won't melt because I am going through menopause and am hot. Okay, I lied. I am not going through menopause...that I know of. But I still was hot and this girl doesn't sweat very pretty, okay???

It's okay though because not only did we walk past those guests already seated, but we walked past the area where the immediate family was to sit and right out another barn door to a grassy area of beautifully covered chairs. In the wind. It was like I had won the lottery. For more reasons than that.

We just happen to be sitting right directly behind the pastor and directly facing the bride and groom. We couldn't have paid for better seating actually. As we sat there talking, waiting for the ceremony to start, Lindsay made a point that I am sure was dead on. “I bet the Weed family wasn't the backdrop that Bailey had planned on when she was envisioning her wedding day.” True that. I'll bet she was right!

Jordan escorted the mothers (Ann, Laurie & Tammy) to their chairs and for a split second, thought he had to go back for more. Maybe he thought he needed to walk Bailey down the aisle too? He quickly changed his mind (I wondered if someone stopped him?) and stayed still.

The processional starts and the jr. bridesmaids (Emilee, Kennedy, & Kelly) walk around looking so cute in their dresses and the jr. groomsman (Cameron) all shined up in his fancy clothes. That little guy is cute on his dirtiest day anyway! Next, the bridesmaids (Mally, Abigail & Ashley) get escorted out. They each looked so gorgeous in their dresses and the groomsmen (Ryan, Andrew & Ryley) all looked so handsome.

The matron-of-honor (Morgan) and the best man (Bradyn), brother and sister, were next to come around. I think it was then that it hit me. These kids are all grown up! I can remember each of them as babies; watching them grow up. How is it that all these kids are growing older yet here I am, the same age??? ;-)

The little ring bearer (Jackson), who was a hit with everyone simply because he is so cute and such a well-behaved little guy, did perfectly! And I believe...but I could have gotten some of these out of line...that the glitter grandma's were next. Four grandmother's throwing glitter on the floor (or in someone's hair) in front of them as they walked around to their seats. That was cute. Never seen that done before!

Next comes the bride. And I would be selling her short to say she looked stunning. I don't know a better word though. Standing still, she could have passed for one of those china dolls. Buuuuut there wasn't much standing still for Miss Bailey. And that's ok! She had the jitters, and who doesn't at that point? Her dress was so gorgeous. I should have taken pictures, I know. But I wanted to enjoy the evening. Besides, there was a photographer for that! And a damn good one...okay two...at that!

Pastor Tim Maxa welcomed everyone and gave the wedding message. Then they played “I can't help falling in love with you.”

Okay, this is where it gets touchy for me. Music always makes me emotional. I don't care where it's at or what the reason. I cry at the Star Spangled Banner most of the time. I would say the song was about three beats in and Bailey started to cry. That kinda made me panic a little bit because I knew if I looked at her again during this song, I would be crying as well.

So, I pan to the left of the bride and groom. Grandpa Larry is wiping his eyes Grandma Karen is wiping her eyes. I could not see the mother of the bride but I bet she was doing the same thing. What am I going to do? Oh look, some well-wishes are already starting to fall out of my eyes! I look at Morgan, only to find her crying as well. It just so happens that to my right, playing in the grass are three beautiful children. And they loved saying hi to Morgan (she is an aunt to two of them) during the ceremony. Those kids saved me! Phew!!!

As Jordan was saying his vows to Bailey and slipping her ring on her finger, she couldn't keep her tears at bay. I wondered at that point how she was ever going to get through her own vows. But she did. And she did a beautiful job. Her voice didn't waver (much) like mine did when I said my vows, but there was so much emotion in her voice that you knew this was her best day of her life so far.

After some praying and the introduction of Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Jenkins, the wedding party made their way to the upstairs area so all us guests could linger out. It was then that I saw the top of the barn had no ceiling in it. There were some boards but no actual ceiling. And the view was spectacular, to say the least. That barn will be enough for me to come back for a visit. I had never been inside before. Truly amazing!

We were given sprinkles to throw on the wedding party as they left the barn but I saved mine back. I have a special purpose for mine. It was really pretty to see all of those on the ground though. That was a very neat idea.

The wedding reception was so fun! It was held at the fairgrounds. They had a dessert bar with enough sugar to make the moon high. It was such a neat idea!! “Oh snap” photography booth where we all put on costumes and had our pictures taken. Cindy, Kathy, Lindsay, Jackie and myself all got up there and embarrassed ourselves! And it was at the request of Cindy of all people, who never wants to do stuff like that! Senility I wonder??? hehehe

We had a great time helping Jordan and Bailey celebrate their future. I'm glad I was able to go. I got to connect with friends that I hadn't seen in years (literally) and just spend a relaxing night enjoying all the festivities.

To Doug & Tammy Thompson, Kenny & Ann Weed, and Pat & Laurie Jenkins...you all did an amazing job with this wedding and reception. Maybe you should all go into the business? No stress, right?

To Jordan and Bailey Jenkins...thank you for allowing me to share in your special day. It was truly a magical and magnificent day. I can not wait to see the pictures (I hope that photographer knows how to blur big purple blobs!).

Bailey is a wonderful addition to our family and I can't wait to show her just how crazy her “new aunt” can be! I hope I don't embarrass her too much!!! -_-

Until next time..I hope all my readers enjoyed this day with me. And thanks for reading!

Your Tour of Duty has Ended

Today (Thursday), I attended the funeral of a man that I have admired for as long as I can remember. Since the moment I walked out of that church, I have been putting words together in the back of my head. I feel I need to explain to you how much this man means to me; how much of an icon he truly is, in my book.

His name is David Dudley. I will refer to him as both Dave and David because I called him both. I will never forget this man as long as I live. I believe it takes one of two things to make a life-long impression on a person. Either a shiny heart or a dark heart.

Rev. Herbert Vestal spoke at David's funeral. Not only reading the obituary but also gave the sermon. While giving the sermon, he spoke about stories that Dave had told him. He told things that he and David had discussed. He made us laugh and he made us cry. One thing that was constant throughout his whole speech was me shaking my head. Either because I could see Dave doing the things he said or I could hear him telling the story. But mostly, it was because all the wonderful and amazing qualities that the Reverend spoke about Dave. I knew he was right on about every one of them.

David and his fantastically gorgeous wife Susan, came to Bedford in 1970, or somewhere around that time. They had three absolutely wonderful kids. And I don't mean they turned out wonderful. I mean they were truly wonderful. I do not have one bad memory of David, Susan, Amy, Brian or Mark. Not one. That's pretty good for kids because we all know kids can be such turds sometimes. Not these kids though. And I'm not trying to make them out to sound like they were perfect and walked on water or anything. There's no doubt in my mind that there are stories...just waiting to be told!! I just remember they were polite and respectful of others. Maybe Dave and Susan should have been holding parenting classes, I don't know.

They sure knew something that most others didn't know. That is a given.

I remember time after time after time, playing with Amy. At her house or at mine. I was always jealous because she had red hair and I would ask my mom why I couldn't have red hair too!

My most vivid memory is when their house caught on fire. They lived in a big beautiful home on Court street and in the late hours of the night, the home caught on fire. It was completely destroyed. Of course, being in a small town, the fire whistle blew (that was right across the street from the jail house) and everybody went looking to see the excitement. And they did. There were people everywhere. I'm not sure what year it happened but I remember being across the street, in my nightgown, and watching their house burn down. It upset me so much because I didn't know what was going to happen to my friend now. Where was she going to live? WHERE WAS AMY GOING TO LIVE NOW?

I'm sure my distress was coming from my own experience of a house fire and all my brothers and sisters being “farmed out” to the neighbors. Of course I wasn't old enough to understand that my friend was going through distress of her own.,,and rightly. All I knew was that my heart hurt because Amy didn't have her bed anymore. I didn't know where she was going to sleep. Funny how that seems so 'big” to such a little girl. I have always carried that feeling with me.

So it is a damn shame that I never kept in touch with the Dudley family after they moved away. I should have been a better friend and wrote letters, made phone calls, even asked my parents to take me to visit them. But I guess as kids, we don't think about that. I'm not sure what we thought about things like that. Maybe “They will come back. This is their home.” or “I will never see my friend again.”

Many times, Dave would stop into the Sheriff's Office when he was working in the area and several of those times, I was lucky enough to be around. Ya know, thinking back, EVERY memory I have of David, he was wearing his Trooper uniform. I cannot recollect him wearing anything else. Watching the video presentation today at the church, there were so many pictures of him in his t-shirts and jeans but I was most comfortable with him in Brown. THAT was the David Dudley that stuck in my heart. He may well have been the reason I always thought State Troopers were the best!

A few years ago, I was at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy for some training and our instructor mentioned his name and my ears must have perked up because she picked up on it. Next thing I know, she is calling him on her cell phone, telling him she has another Weed in her class and to give her a call. Right in the middle of our class!!!!!

That same day we were out on a “field trip” and Dave returned her call. She handed me the phone and I felt like I had won the lottery. I told everyone I knew. She passed his number along to me and I told him I would be seeing him. Well I did see him. That next Christmas. I took a platter of cookies to him and Susan and we had an amazing visit. I didn't want to leave but I didn't want to be rude and say “Hey, I'm spending the night!” Ha!

A couple of other times I had stopped by the house but they weren't there. So recently, Kathy and I were in town and we decided to go see them. We didn't do the polite thing like call to see if they were home; if they wanted company. Nope, we just pulled into the driveway. I made Kathy go to the door by herself to see if they would know who she is...and maybe because I wasn't sure it was the right house. (I told Kathy if it wasn't one of them that answered the door, I was taking off without her!) Of course Susan answered the door and she knew immediately who Kathy was. Phew! Shut the car off!

We stayed for hours. And we both could have stayed for several more hours. Especially after they told us that the doctor's had given Dave six months. I can still hear Susan telling us. Whatever she said after that though...well I don't really know. What I DO remember is them both perking up and telling us all the things they had planned for the next few months. All I could do was kick myself in my own ass for not visiting more; for not looking them up sooner; for not being the friend I wanted to be to them.

The Reverend, when he spoke, said some pretty astounding things about Dave. Things that I guess I never really thought about until they were said out loud. Things that made me want to be a better person.

“When you visited with David, he made you feel like you were his world. Nobody mattered but you.”

And that made me think hard and fast. It goes for Susan as well. ANY TIME I have ever spoken to David and Susan, the conversation was always directed around me. Around my life. Around my world. And eventually they got to themselves. I don't know two other people in my life that can take something as earth-shattering as “...six months to live,” and make it sound like they are about to embark on the biggest and most interesting journey of their lives. But that's what they did. Everything about them is positive and light to me. You can't help but have a shiny heart after just being in the same room as those two.

Another thing that the Reverend mentioned about Dave was “He never had an unkind word to say about anyone.” Now, that being said...keep in mind he was in law enforcement. I'm sure there were one or two people that made him cuss. But, the Dave I know and remember and love, always had something good to say. Even when it came to someone he had to “detain.” He could find sunshine in the darkest of someone's hours.

Even as I sat in that church, I could feel Dave's presence. Telling us all to stop that crying and laughing along with all the ribs that he got. Mr. Dudley you made such an impression on me at such an early age and in the past few years, renewed that impression; filled with love and grace and gratitude and God and all that is good. Until the day I take my last breath, you will be one that is forever with me. I am honored to have known you and to have loved you.

I, like the good Reverend, will not say goodbye to you dear friend. I will say SO LONG. Because we will meet again.

I'm not quite sure of the year the Dudley's left Bedford but they certainly made an impression. A huge one. A positive one. My life would not be the same without this family. Even though I didn't see them for years. Again, I just had to say that a lot of things that Dave was and stood for, are a lot of things I want to see in myself.

Thank you dear friend. You will never ever be forgotten, and every time I hear your name, I will smile and say “He is my friend!” And every time I think about you, I will remember my childhood and all the wonderful things it held for me.

Your tour of duty has ended friend.  You are home now.  Where you are supposed to be.