Last Saturday, Hiram and I danced at a very special wedding. We are friends of the parents of both the bride and the groom. More than that, the bride and groom are part of our lives.
We met the bride when she came to AWANA Cubbies at age three. As leaders, we listened to her recite her verses and watched her “jump for joy” when we sang the Cubbie theme song. We watched her grow her way through AWANAs and Sunday school. When our church staged The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, she was very effective as Imogene Herdman making my character’s job as pageant director near disaster. My husband depended on her leadership in the youth group worship band when she was in high school.
I met the groom when he walked into my third grade classroom. His shy grin and curious mind made teaching a joy. When we followed each other to fourth grade, he was almost family by the end of the second year. And since his mom is one of my scrapbooking buddies, I’ve kept up with his life over the years.
We celebrated their wedding day at the bride’s parents’ farm. The weather was windy and muggy. After we ate and a visited, Hiram and I danced our way through a lively mix of swing tunes, waltzes, line dancing and polkas. As we danced, we imagined the life the newlyweds will start this week. They’re moving out west, as we did as a young married couple. We remembered our culture shock when we plunked down in cowboy country – and then stayed there for seven years.
Living so far from family and old friends was hard, but it was one of the best things we’ve ever done. We learned to rely on one another. We made friends, who weren’t mine or his exclusively, but ours. Because of those years out west, after thirty-one years of marriage, we still rely on each other first. Because of those years, we have mutual, dear friends who are still part of our lives. Because of those years our in cowboy country, we’re still dancing.
So kick up your heels, Austin and Libby. Keep dancing.
