Here Comes The Big One Pt. 8

Everyone in the wedding party knew that something had changed; the atmosphere had shifted.

No longer was preparation needed. Everything was ready, the guests were getting impatient.

Those that had slumbered, had finished their slumbering.

Those that had slept, had finished their sleep.

It was midnight and the last call had gone out. It was time for the young maidens to rise up and trim their lamps, the Bridegroom was due any minute.

Like an over-ripe grape, I burst into the Learning Center and announced to everyone,

"It is time! The Beginning of the End is near!"

The whole bridal party (except for Sam) galloped like a herd of rushed gazelles down through the side hallway and into the foyer, where we began to line up with the person we would either be walking with, or escorting in.

We were all ready.

Sis. Davies had been playing the introductory songs on the piano, and moved into the last one as we lined up in the foyer.

Here was my favorite:

Everything Sis. Davies does, she does well.

Waiting....

Which would have been a good thing except I was supposed to sing the opening song so that the parents and grandparents could be escorted in.

And there I was waiting.

It evades me as to what exactly alerted me to my oversight, but I was spurred by some fleeting memory and made my way into the sanctuary, up the side aisle, and took my place.

Finally. Really ready.

I find it hard enough to sing, much less sing and take pictures, so I apologize for my lack of them at this point. The ones I did manage to get were mostly provided by others.

Sam snuck in the side door with Pastor and Bishop.

There's Sis. Davies and Late Boy, after realizing his mistake.

The musical notes of "Bind Us Together" floated out as the collection of family floated in to find their seats near the front.

Mom and Sam

(You can see Caleb to the right of Sam's shoulder, making a last minute wedding pun or something.)

Caleb escorting Grandma Craig.

After the family had been seated, I quickly joined everyone back outside and the wedding party

began its piece by piece procession up to the platform.

The Groomsmen with the Maids of Honor, the flower girls...

All the while my cousin Katie and Sis. Davies played a beautiful duet.

So you know, I'm just standing there on the platform.

Chillin', sandwiched between Sam and Caleb.

Peering out into the crowd, seeing what single ladies came or didn't come....

When all of a sudden, the music stops and we're blindsided by.....

Those musical notes.

Although the theme that was being played and is played to announce the bride at most weddings was actually first used in an opera to prelude a doomed couple's marriage, THOSE NOTES HAD POWER.

Much like when the wedding started, the atmosphere shifted again.

Everybody's attention was directed to the back doors and as they swung open, the crowd stood to their feet in one fluid motion.

Guess who walked through the door.

Nooo, not the Muffin Man.