Hustle and bustle filled the air as we picked through dresses and found a dressing room among the 20 or so brides in the bridal shop. Beloved followed along behind looking a mix of bewildered, petrified, and enamored, with Lizzie resting contentedly in his arms.
I helped the flower-girl-to-be into the dressing room and convinced her to put down the newly-found Flower Girl ABC book so that we could try on the ivory dress. She was able undress alone, and then I lifted the big dress, fluffy with layer upon layer of organza, and helped her climb through. She turned around while I buttoned up the back and tied the ivory organza sash into an over-sized bow on her back. I pulled her long curls partly back to authenticate the look.
As her face appeared through the dress, stretching up through the layers and layers of material, it seemed to me that we crossed into another world. In this other world, my little girl will someday, Lord willing, don a white dress and I will help her into it. I will lift up the dress to help my little girl, and the face of a woman, a bride, will appear. I will help her fasten it and situate the accent pieces. I will make sure her hair is just right, and then I will stand back and watch as she approaches the mirror to the ooohs and ahhs of onlookers. She will be stunning, as she was the other day, and she will captivate those who see her. She will take her daddy's breath away and she will twirl for him, begging for a smile and a dance. And she will tug at my heart, reminding me of the beauty and complexity that is my Pink, and reminding me of the ever-changing nature of our relationship. Once she depended on me for her very life. And one day, she will depend on me to stand back and let her live her life.
In this world of today, I will continue the busy search for a flower girl dress. I will wipe the runny noses of both girls, and give them medicine to make the fevers and coughs they have bearable. I will wake up at night when they moan with pain, and I will give the baby an extra feeding to comfort her just because I want to. And I will remember the glance I had of things to come, and I will remember how very temporary this world of today really is. I can only imagine the thoughts and emotions that will come of her walk down the aisle later this month.
2 comments:
That made me cry....so beautiful! I hope you post a pic of her in her beautiful dress! =)
I can only imagine. I have the same dress search going on but I think having long hair (Pink) probably contributes to the overall feeling of "someday." I feel for you- I would have been all weepy....
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