Cancun Mexico was an incredibly beautiful place for Steven’s wedding. After lounging all week in the delightful sparkling pool, (and lazy river, and water park, and ocean,) it was time for the main festivities of the trip. Although water sports were not included, water gazing was.  To be more precise, the tented altar was set up in the sand with the seats facing the rolling waves of the ocean. I had purchased new shoes for the occasion, but flipped them off to the side as soon as Steven and Hubby escorted me down the aisle. It felt right to just have the sand between my toes as we strutted to the front row.

Marie was already seated in the front, and she laughed at our clumsiness as we made our way down the path of shifting sands. (I had tried desperately to get an American Sign Language interpreter for her, but my efforts were in vain. After many calls, I learned that AMERICAN sign language interpreters were not available because the ceremony was NOT in America! The alternative was to use a voice to text program that wrote the words down as soon as they were spoken, not quite as much nuance as demonstrated by an interpreter, but it served its purpose.) The rest of the wedding party made its way down the aisle, including our son, Francis, who had flown in from California to be the best man. The piece de resistance was the beautiful bride, escorted by her equally beautiful, albeit older, parents. They sported happy smiles as they kissed Jenny at the altar and left her in Steven’s capable, tattooed arms.

 The officiant was a friend of the couple, who expertly facilitated personalized vows only someone who knew them could achieve. Yes, Steven promised to go to all the sports games which Jenny loved, and she promised to take in Steven’s unruly dog and his large collection of reptiles, minus the alligator which found a home elsewhere. Of course, she accepted her new role as step-mother to ten year old Rosie, Steven’s daughter. The short ceremony was joyful, buoyed by the crashing waves in the background to give it ambiance.

  While pictures were being taken on the beach, we enjoyed a cocktail reception with margaritas and finger foods, serenaded by a lively mariachi band. It reminded me of elementary school where we used to dance the Mexican Hat Dance, and the entire audience jiggled and danced in time to the music.

The reception was held outside in the “town square” of the resort community. With dazzling lights focused on us, Hubby and I were the first couple to be announced, walking in towards the dance floor. An expectation to do a little dance was implicit, but not rehearsed.  Hubby was cooperative, moving his feet in time to our musical choice, the song “Celebrate”, but my feet seemed to be glued to the ground, even when Hubby tried to twirl me.  Twirling is not my strong point, but fortunately the focus on us soon shifted to the next couple to walk into the reception. Everyone else, of course, had prepared elaborate dance routines to celebrate the occasion!

 Steven and Jenny danced the first dance, of course, followed by the father/daughter dance.  Next, it was the mother/son dance, and I was driven to tears when I heard the Josh Groban song “You Raise Me Up”. What a sweet and thoughtful son Steven is!

 And so it is that my son, after years of reptile fascination, found a beautiful woman who appreciated him and all his corny tattoos. He was no longer just my son, but he was now a husband, a happy rite of passage we all hope our children will attain.