George Bernard Shaw once said, “Everything happens to everybody sooner or later if there is time enough.”

George Bernard Shaw was Mostly Correct

This past Saturday, Pam and I attended a wedding. June is a very popular month for such an event and here in Alabama in late Spring, the weather can be friend or foe to an outdoor ceremony. As we drove from Arab to the Southwind Plantation in Wellington, which is about midway between Gadsden and Anniston on Highway 431, we witnessed some dark storm clouds brewing and a few ominous looking cloud to ground lightening strikes in that general direction.

As luck would have it, there were two or three very light pop-up showers that delayed the activities slightly. The accommodations at the facility afforded everyone protection from the drizzle under a very large over-hang with a concrete floor attached to the length of the barn. Yes, I said barn, but this isn’t your ordinary barn. I think it was designed and built specifically for events such as this.

So after the rains started and stopped, a group of savvy well-doers ran out with hand towels to dry the seats, twice. The third time really was a charm, as the rains subsided, the dark clouds rolled away and the heavens seemed to open up with bright rays of sunshine as if God were smiling down on us with his blessing to carry on.

As I watched the couple exchange vows, I realized the mannerisms of the young bride were exactly those of her mother.

Life events like this, watching your children and the children of your friends grow up, get married and have babies of their own are truly some of the better parts of growing older. As I glanced around at all of the family and friends that were there to help celebrate the joyous occasion with this young couple embarking on life’s journey together, I noticed that everyone, from the little flower girl to the most elderly gentleman were all happy and smiling.

If you get an invitation to a June Wedding in Alabama, and especially if it is being held outdoors, I encourage you to get dressed up and go! 90 degrees outside? Put a tie on anyway! Rain predicted? Put that prettiest dress hanging in your closet on anyway! It will be good for your soul!

About the Four Ladies in the Photo

My wife Pam, Leigh, Kay and Dorisa (who is the mother of the bride) have been friends their entire lives.