when things don't go exactly as planned

i don't know how to tell this story

without sounding a bit

braggadocious
but i want to tell it
so i'll take that chance

it all started when the priest didn't check into the hotel

or maybe 

it all started when the weather suddenly changed from

partly sunny

to

mostly rainy

or maybe

 it was when i threw my back out

things were getting so out of hand

that 

upon smelling the wood in the pizza oven

i went into a mild panic

i imagined
the house was burning down

wouldn't that have been

the 

icing on the cake

i'm pretty good under pressure

i was always a last minute lulu in school
but

saturday night tested me good

tested us all

saturday was the big day

a celebration

50 years in the making

dinner and dancing

alfresco

with the pacific as the backdrop

my parents planned to

renew their wedding vows

followed by

a huge party

in the garden of their new home

at half past six

at three it was all on track

smooth as silk

drama free

with a slight chance of rain

by 3:30 it had all changed
slight chance turned to you betcha

not enough time to tent

plan B was scratched

and we punted

we were moving it all inside

2 hours until show time

frantic stashing commenced

jars full of candied nuts, crammed into linen closets

antique match strikers in warming drawers
plants in the dishwasher
pots under the sink
sorry mom

we were punting

the
butler's pantry became a wine bar

the
kitchen island, five feet of antipasti
cocktail tables were moved into the foyer
the band relocated to the living room

space was at a premium
which meant the
brazilian bbq and pizza oven
remained outside
under a canopy of umbrellas


and then
an hour before the ceremony
and me in my grubbies
we hear from the priest

not coming
forgot
had the wrong date on the calendar
no show

duck
here come the locust
or was that just me
nervously humming

let me recap
no priest
no outdoor party
food
 120 people
and
a band
wedged
in the house

a happy 50th anniversary indeed


so here is what happened

i grabbed a bible
pulled some passages
wrote some intentions
found traditional vows via the internet
wrangled the grandchildren to be readers
ran a comb through my hair
put on some lipstick
and pretended
that this is exactly how it was supposed to be
i figured
if i didn't acknowledge it was a disaster
the guests would be too polite to mention anything

here is how i sold it
with a glass of champagne in my hand
and a smile on my face
and this conversation starter

isn't this just so italian
drinking great wine
eating in the kitchen
laughing with friends
cinzano!

here's the thing
when the last guest left
in the wee hours of the morning
i looked at my parents
and i thought
this WAS how it should be
this party
just like a long held marriage
did not come off without a hitch
but
left within its wake
echoes of joy

here's to the next 50
mom and dad
cin cin!