Just in case anyone thought I made up the whole thing about my brother getting married, here is indisputable photographic proof (Click on it to see the full picture on Flickr):
… unless, of course, I just had them dress up like that so I could take this picture and trick y’all. So I guess you’re just going to have to trust me. IT HAPPENED. I SAW THEM KISS. (Oh, and by the way, I obviously survived the road trip: both ways!)
This weekend, as you might imagine, was a whirlwind. It felt like an entity unto itself–like it was somehow surgically removed from the day before it and the day after; because I forgot what schoolwork is due this week and what I was doing last week or anything like that. Time stopped for Brian and Melanie’s wedding.
It didn’t really hit me until I was standing up there on the stage watching our pastor perform the ceremony: My brother was actually getting married. Melanie was going to be his wife now. After so many years of being friends, and of being more than friends, now they would be husband and wife. And that was my brother. The one who held me like a sack of potatoes when I was a baby. The one who went through a phase of liking no colors other than blue and black. The one who once kept a dust collection. The one who makes me laugh all the time and shows me that he cares about me in a hundred different ways. There he was accepting the hand of a woman who had already become a part of our family in so many ways, and who would be his loyal partner for the rest of their lives. I was so happy I could have burst.
After the reception, and the chatting, and the taking of pictures, and the defacing of Brian’s car, and the bubbles, and Brian and Melanie driving off on their honeymoon, we all made our way home with silly, sappy grins still on our faces. Natalie rode the two hours home with me, and she made the trip delightful. We talked about life, the universe, and everything the whole way. As we drove into Eugene and headed to DQ for some dinner, the sun was just beginning to set, and the whole city was glowing. It was a perfect way to end that long, exciting, beautiful day. My brother was married. The guests were gone. The cake was eaten. I was home. It was time to collapse on the couch and fall asleep watching Food Network.
Congratulations, Brian and Melanie Julian. Your wedding was perfect. I love you both a whole bunch, and I am just thrilled that you’re together. Now please make me some nieces and/or nephews. I want to be an aunt.
April 24th, 2006 at 9:58 am
What a beautiful couple! They look so happy too.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
when my husband and i were on the plane heading off for our honeymoon 3 days after our wedding, he turned to me, looked right at my face and said, as if trying on a new shirt, “Wife.” then we both cracked up laughing! we had been friends for 10 years at that point, and had been together for 7 years. so this “husband” “wife” business was pretty strange sounding. like we were kids trying on our parents’ clothes and shoes.
congratulations to you all — to your brother and his wife for a happy wedding. to you for surviving your drives. to your parents for acquiring what sounds like a wonderful daughter-in-law.
April 24th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Clint - They are happy! And I’ll pass the compliment on to them.
Laurie - That’s funny!
I have to wonder if they haven’t had a similar experience on their honeymoon. And thank you very much for your congratulations… I will pass them on to the appropriate people. 
May 6th, 2006 at 5:55 pm
Erin, Melanie e-mailed me the link to your 48slides on flikr. Fantastic!!
I’m a South Carolina old buddy of Nancy Scott’s and a phone acquaintance of Melanie’s (since I’ve ordered MSC books and tapes thru her.) I’m very happy for her! (And you too - new sister - cool.)
Your Dad (back in 1998, when I visited Eugene) took a couple hours out of a busy day, when he was sick with a bad cold, and helped me work through some knotty church/theology issues.
You are a talented web-ster. Wordpress is nefty,eh? Especially the plug-ins. There is a great free theme called semi-logic
http://www.semiologic.com/
that has a number of handy plug-ins for the html illiterate and php-challenged like myself.
May 6th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Claire - I’m glad you stopped by! It’s exciting to see mutual acquaintances finding my site. We’re all very excited about Melanie joining our family. As I’m sure you’ve gleaned from talking to her on the phone, she is a pretty neat person.
Dad remembers you! When I read your comment I yelled into the living room, “Hey, Dad! Do you know someone named Claire Muzal?” He answered in the affirmative, and said he remembered you as one of Nancy’s friends. I’m glad he was able to take time to talk with you… he’s pretty good about that.
Thank you! I’m glad you like my site. Wordpress is great. I’m very happy with it. It’s also neat that you have a blog… I’ll have to add that to my bloglines feeds.
Anyway, it’s nice to “meet” you! I’m glad Melanie pointed you this way.