Friday morning before our wedding I woke up with the most massive headache of my life. No doubt from all the crying I did the day before. I decided that to make this wedding what I wanted it to be, perfect, I would have to start with changing my attitude.
My plan all along was this... Friday morning I would wake up, Neeley and I would have breakfast while the boys all went golfing. My mom would entertain Peyton for Ryan with Nana's help. After our breakfast Neeley and I would get massages. The problem with my planning is that God's plans are bigger than mine!
So Friday I awoke feeling like crap. Mom went to the hospital with Tammy and Kelsey to be with Nana. Peyton was dropped off with me while the boys went golfing and Neeley came over with coffee. Neeley, Peyton and I ordered room service as I tried to nurse my head back to some normalcy. I had my favorite Santa Fe breakfast, eggs Benedict with red potatoes. After I managed to get myself a shower and Neeley entertained Peyton with a game we took her to Rhonda who had graciously offered to watch her for an hour while we got our massages. Then Neeley and I made our way to the spa at La Posada for an hour of complete relaxation.
Our day in the spa started with changing into robes in the ladies locker room. Neeley and I both being modest to the public hunkered into a handicap bathroom both stripping down to put the robes on. We opened the door to find a woman stark naked in the locker room looking at us like we were crazy for hiding in the bathroom. It was a complete "Sex and the City" moment which made us laugh the rest of the day. We ventured out of the locker room, scared of what we would encounter next, to the waiting area where we sipped berry water. In scheduling the massages Neeley had requested both females out of courtesy to her husband and my soon to be husband... they weren't fond of the idea of having a man massage either of us. So knowing this we were a little shocked when a scrawny middle aged man called my name out for the appointment. "Uh ho!" I thought. this is not going to be the relaxing I was hoping for. I have had male masseuses before so I wasn't uncomfortable with the guy until he kept talking and talking to me. Asking me question after question. I tried to explain I was incredibly stressed, I was getting married the next day and just needed an hour of quiet before chaos erupted. He finally held back on the questions and an hour later that felt like 10 minutes we were through.
I had gotten my manicure and pedicure for the wedding earlier in the week in Amarillo. The gel nail polish I chose however looked to me like it was clear and after the moving of wedding decor I had done I could see black under my nails. I can't walk down the aisle with black under my nails. What about my pictures?! I was to obsessed with my nails looking perfect so when we finished our massages and hadn't received any missed calls telling us of a crisis, I decided to push my luck and have the spa redo my nails. The gel I had put on was a nightmare to get off. My manicurist at La Posada lectured me on the science of gel vs. schlack and how bad the gel is for my nails and yada yada yada. It took her 45 minutes to remove the "clear" color I was so concerned with and another 30 or so to re paint them. I sat in the chair watching time fly by as Neeley kicked it into high gear. She began completing our tasks that were remaining for the day via the phone at my side. Order the breakfast for the bridesmaids in the morning, organize incoming guests and family. She was amazing as she sat by my side calming me and taking care of business. As I could finally see the end of the light on a polish change that seemed to last forever Neeley got a call...
News from Nana had been sparse throughout the day with the for waiting for doctors. When we finally did hear, the news was she should be released soon from the hospital but would be taken straight home to Amarillo. This news is delivered to my while my manicurist is googling the Internet for and old video of her husbands band to share... not interested! Get me out of here! It took ever fiber of my being to patiently wait for her to finish, pay and leave before my tears started flowing. I absolutely wanted the best for Nana. I certainly did not want her to be there if it was going to put her in some kind of danger. However I was faced with not having another person at my wedding who I desperately wanted to be there, who I needed there! I was already deeply missing the presence of my Grandy, my Dad, my Mom (in alot of ways) and now no Nana. I was devastated. Neeley soon got a call that family was arriving to the hotel and we needed to meet them soon, Mom had returned from the hospital and needed help with Peyton. There would be no time to process and grieve.
I returned to my hotel suite that was opened to the room Mom and Nana had. Mom was in no better mood towards me than the day before. As she saw my tears she began to question the cause of them. I tried to brush it off but she was insistent. I finally told her that Nana wasn't going to be at the wedding and she responded with a shout that we did not know that yet. Trying to explain the phone call we had just received was useless. I walked outside to call Drew in a panic. Nana's not coming to the wedding. I need help with my Mom. I can't do this alone! All came out in broken sentences through sobs. Drew didn't skip a beat and said he would be right there. I later realized he made all the guys pack up 8 holes short of what they paid for. At this time he was the only one who realized what not having Nana at my wedding would do to me. The time between our call and when he arrived back at the hotel, which was short, he called and talked to Nana himself. Something I didn't have the courage or composure to do and would never have expected him to. I don't know the details of the conversation but Nana told me later through tears of her own that the call he made meant more to her than he would ever know. He told Nana that her not coming was something that would devastate both of us. That we Both needed her there for our wedding day. That She meant to much to us to not have her present. Drew arrived back to me with the strong arms I desperately needed to be held with. He told me he personally spoke with Nana and she would be staying to attend our wedding. That was the first moment of relief I felt so far in Santa Fe. The first hope of a perfect wedding.
I changed out of the leggings and tank top I had been in since my massage and tried to make myself look like an elated bride. Tenell and Aunt Cindy were the first to arrive to La Posada from out of town. They met us as we sat outside on the terrace snacking on chips and drinking margaritas. It was so wonderful to see them arrive. It seemed to hammer home that there would be a wedding tomorrow and it was mine! Seeing their smiles was a blast of sunshine. Tenell brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Whitney and Laura Beth arrived next. I was so anxious to see them, having not seen either of them in a long time. Whitney had never met Drew and I was excited to see how they interacted. Drew and I met them outside the resort to help with their bags. I was so proud to show off my Fiance' to them and I think Whitney was quickly impressed with my choice. The next hour or so was a combination of greetings, hugs, and laughter as we all reunited on the terrace and explored the grounds.
As we were sitting outside Drew got a call that Nana was being unloaded out front and needed a wheelchair. He went off to bring her in and as she was rolled by our table I rushed over to see her. Seeing her face was an instant relief to me. My emotions unloaded. I hugged her and we both cried on each other's shoulders. She looked me in the eyes and said. "Megan do you remember when you told me you were thinking about getting married and Santa Fe and asked if I would be there? Do you remember what I told you?" Through tears I said "Yes! You said you would be there!" She simply said "And So I will!"
Nana was taken to our room to rest and recover with an oxygen machine. I was told rather curtly by some that she would not be attending any of the nights events, rehearsal, dinner, lingerie shower. That she needed to be inactive to get all her energy back. I didn't care as long as she was at the wedding!
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