Wednesday, August 19, 2015

A Look Back and A Look Ahead



This. This is the moment that got me.

My baby sister, holding hands with Mom and Dad, walking down the aisle.
Tears. I just couldn't help it.

I'm completely happy for her. And she's more than ready. She's 32 for God's sake, so it's about time.

I think I kind of get how it must feel for a parent to watch their kid get married. I mean it's time and you're so happy they found that special person in life. And of course you wouldn't want them to be single forever.

But, it's over. It's all over. That little life we had as a family of four so so many years ago--it's over. Technically it's been over for a while now since I've been married for almost 12 years and have three kids.

There's, however, just something about watching your baby sister walk down the aisle that brings it all back.  All those summer days spent playing on the camper loft. Listening to oldies. Noshing on Nacho Cheese Combos. It was always just the four of us--Dad, Mom, me, Kelly. Of course we'd visit family or they'd visit us, and we had our friends. But, we were never quite as happy as when it was just us four. Those were special days.

It's humbling to look back on those days and realize how quickly it all goes. All those birthdays and Christmases and family reunions and the time I broke the kitchen sink and ruined mom's birthday and when our first pet rabbit died three days after he came home from the carnival and when Kelly would scarf down a dozen deviled eggs every Easter and the trip to Ocean City when Dad hurled my pet hermit crab out of the camper after it pinched my hand.

It all seems a lifetime ago. Our silly sayings. Our inside jokes. Our traditions and rituals.

Our memories. They will always be our memories. Just ours. Just us four. And those are days and months and years I will never ever forget.



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