It's the Eve of the Eve....

..not to mention Thanksgiving tomorrow.
Geesh.
Try as I might, I still have had more pre-occupation with the wedding on Friday and almost ignoring sweet Thanksgiving. Fortunately, as in "A Christmas Carol", I haven't missed the holiday itself. We will descend on KasaKurko tomorrow. The men from Michigan will watch the Lions game and the girls will bring over the food pre-ordered from Marie Callendar's so that no one had to cook or effort.

Don's sister, Char and her husband, Dave arrived from Michigan, so we got to see them for breakfast at Antique Row (where I studiously avoided the potatoes). Jessi is back in town and I got to spend some time with her at Starbucks where we could find quiet to get caught up together. Then Don and I got back to getting all the details handled and our ducks in a row before and for the wedding. Because of the holiday, we have had to handle more things in the past 48 hours because many stores will be closed both Thursday and Friday. Don and I were running around most of the day running errands. We dropped off the wine and decorations to the chapel and ran over the sequence of the ceremony. Later, we picked up our tuxedo and wedding dress. (Won't tell you who is wearing which).

The night is not over as Don is over at The HeartSpace with Dr. Jim printing our programs. While listening to show tunes, I am working on the bridal party what-nots. Our goal is to complete all the minutiae tonight so that we can truly surrender to the holiday tomorrow.

It has been so delicious getting phone calls and cards from folks. Everyone is being so attentive and supportive. People stepping in to help out. Friends calling from Los Angeles to wish me well. And everywhere we go and we mention that we are getting married in two days, people just light up, there seems to be an extra sparkle in their eye or their voice. I don't know whether it is because they are tickled to see a more mature couple being so giddy, or if it's just that I am excited enough for all of us that it seems like extra glee.

Hopefully, the spurts of tears and grief attacks have subsided enough to allow me to be fully present and free to enjoy tomorrow's holiday and of course, the wedding. In thinking about honoring my childhood tradition of watching the Macy's Day parade on Thanksgiving, I suddenly burst into tears and sorely missed my Mom. That was one of our traditions even after I moved away. Now I am entering into a new family and can create new traditions while remembering and honoring the past ones.

Today, when we got in the car, Char pulled out a little box to hand to me. She said she had a little gift for me. I could clearly see that the box was far from new. As she opened it, she explained that it was her mother's (embroidered) handkerchief that she and her daughter both carried in their weddings. I cried. That was the sweetest and most thoughtful gesture and it meant volumes to me. Don had to explain to his sister that I have always longed for a family and particularly now without Mom. Tucked inside was also a little photo of a young Donnie along with two of his blue ducky diaper pins! And the box was from Gimbel's! Gimbel's of Macy and Gimbel's in "Miracle on 34th Street" which takes me full circle to watching the parade tomorrow.

So much emotion. So much love.

The next time I post on this might be after the wedding and I will be a married lady--a Sadie--that just amazes and amuses me. Moi? Married. I have facilitated so many weddings that to think I am on the other side of the altar (so-to-speak) just makes me cock my head in perfect RCA puppy fashion. Also having been married, I really understand what a wedding and marriage means. Awesome.

Giving thanks . . .