Marla and Catherine HannaTwenty-one years ago today my brother David Lawrence Hanna married my friend Marla Michelle Martin. Marla asked me not only to be her maid of honor, but also to make her wedding dress. Naturally I agreed to all of the above, and I figured while I was at it I could make my own dress as well. I did not worry that I had bitten off more than I could chew because I had plenty of time. Yet there is one significant character trait of mine I forgot to factor in when calculating time to complete the dress - my tendency to procrastinate.
As a rule, I save for the last minute what could be planned and completed weeks in advance, and I am learning this is only acceptable when others are not involved, i.e. a bride waiting in the wings for her wedding dress.
One day, about a week before the wedding, David calmly asked me when I thought I might begin working on the bride's dress. Sitting there as he patiently talked to me, it came as revelation how completely inconsiderate I was being to my brother and future sister-in-law. Panic ensued; actually it had been ensuing in the bride for weeks, I was just catching up.
So I began cutting, fitting, sewing, ripping, pressing, hemming and all at break neck speed. Then, while sewing on miles and miles of white satin, in the wee small hours of the morning, I pricked my finger and bleed all over the dress. I tried to get it out with a cold, damp cloth, but it just smeared grayish everywhere.
So, in utter despair, I got up and walked down the street and sat on the steps of the Episcopal Church. As I sat there in my failure I noticed some kids had vandalized the neighborhood church. The little delinquents had spray painted the word SATAN onto the sidewalk leading up to the church entrance. I smiled as I read the word, because they had misspelled SATAN and instead wrote SATIN.
I took it as sign from above and was comforted with the knowledge that God was paying attention and involved in what was happening in our lives. I returned to my room to find the dress had dried white as snow.
I never doubted the dress would not be ready on time from that moment on. Granted I was hemming it in the dressing room of the church on the day of the wedding, but we all walked the aisle fully clothed.
Mr. and Mrs. David L. Hanna
9 comments:
Thank you Cat for remembering and sharing on the enterweb.
I still love YOU!
Baby Dave.
I remember that day so well except for the fact that I can hardly believe it was 21 years ago. Marla was so beautiful in her white satin wedding gown; Raymond Luster and David wore complementing argyle socks. The church was packed with their families and friends eager to wish them well. Of course, I cried.Congratulations and best wishes on this the beginning of your 22nd year. Mom
Where have you been? Haven't seen you in almost a week chickie!
Congratulations! Seems like only yesterday that you were married on my birthday. My love to Dave and Marla. Love, suelaza
Yes, I remember that fun day. It was truly an honor to be chosen as the best man and I wore those blasted pink argyle socks until all of my toes poked through. David and Marla: Catherine and I take full credit for the successes of your lengthy and frutiful marriage. Carlene: you too, were beautiful that day in your dress. I called it pink and Lori corrected me, informing me that it was dusty rose. It is no small task to make it to 21 years of marriage. Pat yourselves on the back for this honorable accomplishment. Now, about that little house in Clute....what did ya'll do in there before you got married? Much love and fond memories, Raymond AKA The Best Man!
To The Best man, Thank you for EVERYTHING!
The little house in clute? One word, Candace.
All my love, David
David, I mean Marla... as long as you are getting the same action now that you were then, it's all good. DO NOT ANSWER THIS ONE.
You made me take it to the gutter, didn't you?
Cathern, we need pictures, please.
Catherine as i started to read the beginning of this post i started to panic myself. Someone actually trusted you to make thier weddig dress. I knew exactly how it was gonna play out except the blood part surprised me cause i just knew in my heart it was gonna be cat piss.
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