The family on my moms side is interesting. The day before the "Wedding" my family went up to my grandmothers house. There, a odd grouping of family members awaited us. Second cousins we never see, an aunt ( and family) from Idaho, with a sprinkling of California Aunts and Uncles.
It started out with my husband and I eating way to many krispie treats and watching my grandmothers baby (odd shaped & overweight) chiuahauas. The night went on very well. It was a little odd to see this family together. Only half of my Aunts and uncles showed up. In my opinion, my parents are the best, most well rounded adults (aside form my husband and I ) there. I took pictures of all the couples, and lets just say my mothers sisiter and her husband have some issues. They did not get closer for the picture, they moved away form one another and my aunt made a sill face at him... in a very non silly manner. Family.

This is it. Two days before Christmas and the family is incomlpete. My family is having a Hot Chocolate night on christmas eve, where we open one gift and our guests open thier gifts from us. Well, she won't be there. Out of this group of cousins, she is the only one not on the college track. One UCR grad, SDSU grad, soon to be UCSB, UofA, Fire Academy, and one who is still in High school and enrolled in college too. Then there is Rose.... I'm done. She is happy and my family will move on, and I will take this learn from it and pray to god when and if I have kids I raise them with the values and traditions my parents raised me with.

The hawk, a good sign, I hope. 

The location was nice, it was held in an old Victorian garden, complete with a a very man made pool and pond that was suppose to look very natural. My husband and I drove up, along with my bestfriend of 17 years, we parked and slowly walked to the house. It was huge, yet empty. As we walked up the driveway a little boy came running up to instruct us about were to sign in. I was slightly annoyed by this kid... why I'm not sure. I think it could of been that he was a stranger, that we should of had our family doing the "wedding" jobs, or maybe I was just plain annoyed by his shrill voice and miss matched clothing. I saw the guest book and went to sign in, and there he was, waiting for our approach. He held out his hand. As I looked at him through my shades I felt the need to asked him demeaning questions, but I held back. I shook his hand and gave no thought to it. We sat down, the brides mother in the back row with my cousins (the brides siblings) and my parents. In the front row, my grandmother and her husband. The middle three were filled with second cousins and my husband and my B.F. The ceremony had started, my cousin, the brides half brother was to walk her down the aisle. He left the chair next to my best friend and went to retrieve the bride. My aunt gave me simple instructions for the photos I was about to take...her only. I complied. The brides side (which sat on the wrong side) looked as if we were in mourning rather then at a wedding. It seemed so surreal. Almost as if it did not happen. As the ceremony took place I found myself intrigued with a hawk flying around.

Then all of a sudden it was over... Wait! They forgot to ask if anyone objected. We all slowly stood up, his side full of smiles ours full of tears, not the ones that you usually see at weddings, these tears came from the depths of disappointment and sorrow. Why did we even show up, you may ask, to show him that yes, he took away out sweet "Rose" but we will always be here. We tried to avoid the congratulation line and my father found a back way. As my family went around the "backway" Rose and that man of hers ambushed them. Hugs were given and and then it was over. I stayed behind with some cousins of mine and my grandmother. My best friend and my husband waited on the sidewalk for me. I said my good-bye and as I walked out I passed the "cd" player that had their wedding music on it... how ironic, it started to skip. I met up with my family and Rose's sister. We gave each other hugs and shrugged our shoulders. What's done is done.

My eyes... my world